Wrong application of Salt

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men. Matthew 5:13

I presently advise the management body of a distribution firm on issues in their processes. Due to turnover and growth, a core operational aspect requires recruitment on a day to day basis. I make frequent attempts to review the employee evaluation processes (which requires that the candidates take a test). To fit in, my dress sense will give any onlooker that I am some university graduate or an aspiring yahoo yahoo guru.
An interview just finished ten minutes before I started writing this blog. I noticed these two men passing about papers during the exam and exchanging ideas. Immediately the exam was over, the older one bowed his head and offered a prayer, clearly for success. After which he made the sign of the cross and left the examination hall.
What do you think about that?
First lets get this straight; Facts about me:

1. I come from a Christian family. Most of my friends are Christians also.
2. I practice Christianity (not necessarily to the level at which i can be considered "born again" but I think I can be classified a "good" person (by standards))
3. I encourage Christianity and believe it provides a sustainable way to life long happiness

One aspect of my philosophy on life, looks at value and systems. I believe we are all working together for our perception of a greater good. Due to the complexities of our society, one individual is not equipped enough to produce everything he/she requires for survival.So some form of batter trading takes place. And this value is stored in the form of cash/money.
I generate money from the value I add by providing analytical services to interested clients. This earnings is diverted to meet my wants & needs (as I do not have the time or expertise to do that, and at the same time, focus on meeting the needs of others). While I focus on writing this blog (for example) , Acer can focus on building better laptops. In the general case, some groups focus on tilling the land for our needs (food, oil and mineral resources)some other modify what has been tilled, others apply it, while another are bungled up with the task of deciding what to do with the produce. That is how it works.
Those that work are those that can eat!!
I tend to believe that institutions within a society are employed to add value and earnings for such, reflects the amount they add. To falter would mean certain aspect of societal living will be affect. Different institutions have been employed to review different aspect of living. They are either based on governmental nomination or voluntary mandate. The government delegates ministries to create/maintain infrastructures and (depending on the level of development in that society) provide social goods. The people nominate religion to help provide a conscience/essence to living. It objectively should instill a universal truth; a truth that will be acceptable across all social segments. It should be an institution managing an aspect of the society that both government/private institutions are not capable of handling; the state of the human mind. I am talking about putting the right control mechanism in place to prevent the powerful from inflicting extreme social experiences on the weak. As this position of power in this institution links its congregation closer to God, the the seat of power enjoys immunity.

The Nigerian church can be estimated to be a $19.14 billion industry (Estimation is based assuming annual GDP at PPP of $191.4 billion (source wikipedia April 2008) that is evenly distributed, and Christians are 50% of the population; they all pay their tithe, which is 10% of their income and pay an extra 10% on pledges, building fund, church offering and thanksgivings).There is a balanced distribution of both the rich and the poor but a similar clamour seem to be fueling their desire to "invest" more in the church; change. People are fed up with epileptic electricity situation, bad road, corruption in government, high crime rate, and a general decay in the social fabric that lies underneath the structure of our society. I don't think our religious engagement will be this high if Nigeria functioned better.
I cannot help but voice out my perception on the whole thing. Agreed the bible says:
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" 1st Corinthians 3:19.
For all I know, there might be aspects that I overlooked or am not capable of analyzing. But the bible also says:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" 2nd Chronicles 7:14
Statistics at one time ranked Nigeria has the country with the 2nd highest number of churches per people (Jamaica was ranked first).
In line with my thinking, the church revenue along with the above statistics do not give any indication of the value it adds to our well being.
The media publishes daily news on:

1. Corruption cases against almost all governors, minister and governor over allegedly siphoning money (papers as at time of writing are filled with the case of Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and the N300 million health ministry scandal)
2. Death from preventable diseases are on the increase
3. Rising crime rate levels
4. Soaring unemployment rate
5. Crisis in the Niger Delta
6. Traffic in Lagos
7. Increasing brain drain

At the same time, we hear news on night vigils are becoming society events that attract the rich and mighty (Ex president Olusegun Obasanjo, was a regular at the redemption Camp along with a host of other governors to include Chief Gbenga Daniel).

I might be wrong but I believe that the church should be a more pivotal role in deciding how this society should function.

• The church should have a laid out plan on how it intends to ingrain discipline in the mind of the youth. Although it has not been completely successful, I think introduction of private universities by some churches are a step in the right direction (I am not completely convinced that shielding them totally from the evils of the world would make them become good Christians; how do you what is right, when you don't know what is wrong?).They should also be active in developing survival strategies for its youths that will enable them function in a society like this and still maintain their faith.
• They should also be effective in ensuring that the law rewards and punishes fairly. These institutions should be out there making comments on government policies and effects on the grassroots, designing better ones and constructively criticizing the government's negative actions.
• The church should be heavily involved in charity work and welfare services. (not by donating one bore-hole and organizing a ceremony to do that; I am referring to welfare packages that will ensure the individual comes out better off at the other end).

I believe the issues the church should deal with must reflect the challenges the society faces at that time. The missionaries who came from the West (before the colonisation of Africa) required expanding the gospel at that time because that was the major challenge they faced. Societal values functioned better and people barely knew what they know now. So unrest was not like it is now. The major issue then could include convincing new convert that they are doing the right thing (as the religion seemed to be gaining ground elsewhere). I am not critizing any expansion strategy but I don't think it is a priority (especially when you are expanding in the same location). Our challenges as a society go deeper than make more money, kill all enemies or building bigger churches. They are more fundamental (that is why we now have pastors who roam about with siren vehicles and security guards).

The amount is of salt applied to food is usually very little (compared to the volume and quantity of the food and other items in the pot). Yet, there is always a difference. I think the question we need to be asking is if the salt is wrongly applied or simple has lost its savour.
Whatever the case maybe, something definitely is not right.

Vantage Point

I heard this story when I was much younger. It was meant to be a joke (it was funny to us geeks then, but now I take it more like a story). The movie "Vantage Point" reminds me of the joke.
I modified it a lot to make it sound more realistic. Here it goes.

Four men and two ladies arrived at the gate of heaven. The angel of at the gate asked them how they got there.

Man one: " I live on the ground floor of Missionary Rise of 3rd close. Tola came to my house this evening looking really worried. We discussed over a bottle on his worries. " I think Simi is cheating on me. She has been hanging around with Fisayo lately. I don't think it is good a newly wedded lady be found around a harlot" He said. "Don't say that" I replied and said without thinking "She was with Kunle (the finance guy) this morning". "WHAT? That B*tch? So she is still seeing her ex-boyfriend? What is wrong with ladies of today? I am going to kill that girl". I immediately rushed out in a bid to stop him (knowing the type of animal an ex-military man can become when provoked). He entered the lift and shut the door before I could stop him. Since he lives on the 5th floor, there was no need stopping him. I ran to the staircase but it was locked. Then the call came in. I had to rush back into my flat to take the call "This dude has lost it. You need to see this" I said and hung up. Out of options, I ran back out, stood by the balcony and just kept screaming "Tola" at the top of my voice. It was dark and I couldn't see so when but all I remember was something inaudible sound, a loud crash, before you know it, I find myself here."

Man 2: " I came back from work a bit early today. Not a very exciting day at work really. The boss had been stressing about the compliance report for a long time. I needed some facts to finish it off. So I called up Kunle (the accounts manager) who told me to follow meet him up at a party in Missionary Rise. On getting to there. I was not so shocked to see Kunle with his usual handbag (Taiwo); that means we are getting no work done. True to my word, Kunle was off. " I should be in downstairs. Taiwo & I are going to Kemi's flat, (which is right beneath).I should be back in a bit". Bored to my head I go to the balcony to hang out. "Taiwo would look good naked" I thought. I tried to peep into the kemi's flat by leaning over the balcony, hoping I would see something "NICE". FREAKS!. They were actually doing it right next to the balcony. I could see everything. And Taiwo was looking.... (let me spare the details). Suddenly, I heard someone scream "TOLA! TOLA!!!" Out of shock I tripped and fell. Luckily, the railings of Kemi's balcony was on my way. So I held on to it for my dear life. Suddenly, this huge man comes from no where and starts stepping on my fingers (hoping I fall off). The man was so filled with rage, that he grabbed something huge and slammed it on my head. That is all I remember".

Man 3: (stark naked): " Today, started. Taiwo kept telling me I need to come over to see her. She said she has something special to show me. I just flew back to town after the long conference on finance compliance. Everyone had been putting pressure on me; the 2008 audit was coming and everyone had to be up to scratch. She invited me over to her new flat on the 5th floor of Missionary Rise at 3rd close. For some reason, SHE WAS LOOKING HOTT!!!! "Let me show you something down stairs". Downstairs has dual meaning. I thought, with that sheepish grin. This dude with ill-fitting suit is calling again. "Yes. upstair". This dude should get a life. He comes in and starts blabbing about the compliance and process alignment. We will talk about that later; I really need to get laid now.I thought. After 2 minutes of chatting (and seeing that the silly man could not deduce from my hints), I interrupted his conversation by telling him I need to go to Kemi's flat. Before we entered, I pounced on her and started ripping her clothes apart. I have missed my baby purring at my manliness. It was sweet to touch her again. Suddenly, we heard knocks on the door. "KEMI OPEN THE DOOR!!!! YOU AND FISAYO WANT TO RUIN MY LIFE. AND THIS IS JUST THE FIRST MONTH OF MARRIAGE! I WONT LET THIS HAPPEN"!! The shock of hearing that made us trip and we fell together. Taiwo rushed to wear her clothes. The maniac batched the door opened. I hid behind the couch. Immediately, the guy saw her he grabbed her by the neck."WHY??!!!" He screamed into her face. Is there something I don't know? I was so frightened by the whole thing that I rushed into the fridge to hide. In no time I felt the fridge being lifted. After a heavy fall, I found myself here".

Man 4: "It has been hard to get a date. After my stint in the military kept a lot of girls from me when I moved back to countryside. I met a girl online called Simi. Darling beauty. We kept in touch for months before we finally met. She came to see me in December. On seeing her, I knew she was the one for me. She stayed over for two weeks. I actually proposed to her on the day she wanted to leave. She accepted on the condition her move to her area which was on 3rd Close (that is about two hours away from the Bridge). I finally accepted. We came over two weeks later and we got married. We moved over to 3rd Close after the wedding. We got a place on the 5th floor of Missionary Rise. The landlord (Jide) took a liking for me. We hit it off and became good friends. While trying to settle down in the house, I noticed she had pictures of herself and a guy called Kunle on which she wrote "the love of my life". I also saw pictures of a friend of hers Kemi and Fisayo. She always goes to see Kemi (who lives just beneath). I was so angered by that because those girl where single. They will make a b*tch out of my baby.
Tired and frustrated, I decide to hang out with last Jide night, when I got back home. He seems to agree that Simi was cheating on me. Although he didn't want to tell me outrightly. Then the word came out of his mouth "KUNLE". I rushed out of his flat. The lift to odd numbers was not working so I took the other one and stopped on the 4th floor. Dashed to the stairs but the door was locked. Struggling with the door I looked to my left and saw a jacket on the floor "This looks like Simi's". I remember clearly that was the blue jacket she wore on the first day we met. And it was right in front of Kemi's flat. I banged at the door. At first I didn't hear a sound. After a while I heard some shuffling. I banged opened the door to see my Simi naked. The pain was too much for me to bear so I strangled her to death. But where is the man. I thought I saw him a minute ago. "TOLA! TOLA!!" I heard Jide calling. I then saw the bastard hanging by the railings of the balcony. Jide is hinting me of where the f*cker was hiding I thought. I tried stepping on his feet but the guy had some strong grip. I looked for something to throw him off. Nothing seemed movable except the fridge which I carried and slammed on his head. The fridge pushed him down and he fell. But the fridge's wire caught my leg and pulled me along. That was how I fell, died and found myself here".

Lady 1:" I have been dating Kunle for about a year. He is the sexiest guy alive and I could not get my hands off him. He was away for about three months due to the conference he had. I had some other commitment so I was out of town for a while. Finally moved to the 5th floor of Missionary Rise on 3rd Close I wanted him to come and see me there and know that we "have arrived". This flat was massive with a whooping four rooms (getting such on high street is difficult these days). On seeing him, I wanted to rip him out and touch every part of his body. But i couldn't. Besides for decency sake, this geek kept standing around asking silly questions. " I should be in downstairs. Taiwo & I are going to Kemi's flat, (which is right beneath(Kunle pointed).I should be back in a bit". That was how we escaped. Getting down to it suddenly we heard a scream. Some man was shouting about what Kemi and Fisayo did. He banged opened the door and strangled me to death. That is how I got here".

Lady 2: " After my breakup with Folarin, I decided that men in this town where not good enough. So I went online and met a marine officer called Tola. He was huge. But very calm but he seemed to have a temper that he has successfully been able to control. We got married after sooner than normal and I forced him to move over to Missionary Rise. We got a spot on the 5th floor. Since the beginning of the week,I noticed there was something bothering him so I decided that maybe I should cheer him up with a small party. We locked the lift on the 5th floor and also all the fire exits (that led to the stair case). This is to prevent children from running out of the building because all their parents where in the party. We had intended to give Tola all the surprises so the plan was that Jide hangs out with him and brings him up later. When I called Jide and he said "This dude has lost it. You need to see this", I was petrified. So I rushed down stairs only to see a fridge on Jide with Tola on it and Kunle lying out of it (the fridge had burst open on impact). I was collapsed and that was how I got here".
"What was the surprise you wanted to show him?" The angel asked. "It is a secret I had always kept from him. I share everything with her. And people get us confused. We are identical twins. My name is Kehinde. People call me Simi".