Leap, Leap, Leap! Hurray!!!

Happy Birthday to all who celebrate their birthdays in leaps! Today is your full day.

I got to know of an English legend and tradition which dates back to the 5th century where Saint Bridget made a complaint to Saint Patrick about deferred marriage proposals to women. As a result, Saint Patrick is said to have set aside 29th February, as the day when women are allowed to “pop the question” to their prospective husbands. In Scotland, a law was passed in 1288 to the effect that any man who refused a woman’s proposal would be obligated to pay a fine. Wow!
The assumption was that the leap day fixes calendar lapses, hence on that same day women would have the opportunity to fix lapses in marriage proposals.

In my side of the world, I don’t think this tradition will catch on. Culturally, it is a taboo, and looking at the prevalent religious practices, it is unacceptable. However, in reality it does happen and the young people call it, “giving a man a scholarship.” But I’d rather a man step up to the plate and be a man in this area, than a woman force him into a commitment that he is unwilling to make on a leap day.

Rejoice in the LORD always

Rejoice in the LORD always.

Oftentimes, I read this and I give an inward shout, Yey!-thinking that I’m rejoicing in the LORD. Sometimes, I think the outward expression really is what matters, so I jump, shout or clap. Somebody observing me in those moments might think, “Akofa is joyful.” Well, there have been times that I’ve been really joyful. And other times, it was all pretence and only God knew it. I think some of the pretending moments have been in big-church related gatherings where the MC will try to stir up the large gathering to “Give a Mighty Shout onto the LORD! … You can do it better for the LORD!” Frankly speaking, there were times I really didn’t feel like it and didn’t know why I had to join the rousing crowd… but I did it anyway.

In today’s window time, I learnt this: Rejoice in the LORD. Erm... I believe you’ve already mentioned that, so what’s new? You say. No, read well… Rejoice in the LORD. There is a focal dimension here. One is not just rejoicing for the sake of it, but taking delight in the Person of God. When you take delight or rejoice in someone, it presupposes that you know some things about him/her and that you know him/her. It is what you know of the person that makes you want to take delight in him/her.


So, who is the LORD? Do you know Him? Example:

He is our Father and God,
He is loving and kind,
He is faithful to all His promises,
He is the Deliverer and Protector,
He heals us from our diseases-Healer,
He cares for us-Provider,
and many more!

If we recall such things about our LORD and Father, then rejoicing in Him becomes purposeful and much easier. Then we can bring our minds, hearts and bodies into focus in expressing our enjoyment of Him.

I say it again, Rejoice in the LORD! Philippians 4:4

Lady Akofa

Honouring the Black Stars 2

Pre-Post-note: I know this is loooong overdue, but it’s never too late to give honour to those who deserve it. I got busy with a transitional phrase-to a new job-Yey! And I’m trying to think up new ideas both for my new job and for this blog so... we’ll see what pops up from my small head soon, ok?

I am the last person to be blogging about football/soccer because I’m a typical No-Football watcher, whether by TV or at the stadium. I mean, spend a little over two hours watching a game? Not moi. So I’m venturing into an unfamiliar territory like a lamb in the midst of wolves. Pls, don’t attack me! :)

But at least this time I know what I’m writing about… the recently ended MTN Ghana/CAN 2008 that took place in my home country, Ghana. I watched most of the matches that the Ghana Black Stars played. And on top of it, I learnt some terminologies that go with the game too! My heart and mind soared and plummeted as I watched the falls, disappointments and wins of the game. Why do regular football fans torture themselves so? And it’s not like they share in the monetary rewards given to the players or do they?

Anyhoo, I write to honour the Black Stars, the national football team of Ghana- in my view they put in their very BEST. Players that we knew not of before the tournament, became a household names during the tournament and fans sang their praises, although there were some criticisms (most of them, in my view, unmerited) as well. And the media is still ruminating on the residue of the tournament.

Loosing to Cameroon at the semi-final was much better than losing to Nigeria at the quarterfinals, because 1. Nigeria and Ghana have a loooong history of friendship & competition.:) 2. Because the Black Stars could play again, which they did and won the third position. Of course we could have made it for the Final Finale match, but I’m thinking, ...could we have beaten the Egyptians, with our weak defence?

So to the Black Stars I say, AYEEKOO! And that Kangaroo dance, it looks to me like a cobra, especially the hand part. Is that really a Kangaroo dance?

Post-Post-Note: I’m not sure whether the Black Stars have a logo, a Black Star maybe… but I honour their work and success with the picture of the Ghana flag. The Black Star is right in the middle!

Heart of Hearts

The Heart of a Friend is Special
It teaches me to Love
That Crying is just another Expression of love
That Laughter is truly the Best Medicine
It teaches me to Bear All Things
That in the midst of disappointment, Hope is My Anchor
A person’s Heart is more precious than the outward countenance

The Heart of all Hearts is what I seek
The Love of all Loves is whom I seek

My poor love for His Indescribable Love
My short-lived happiness for His Bubbling Joy
My short life for His Eternal Life
My Ashes for His Beauty

I’m captivated by His Beauty
Awed by His Glory
I’m Enamoured
Ooooooh…!!!


February 13, 2008
Lady Akofa

Honouring the Black Stars

Huh? Did You Just Say Pepsi was the Official Drink Sponsor for MTN Ghana 2008?

Well I thought Coca-Cola was! I honestly didn’t know this until a colleague pointed it out to me at work. I had just drunk a bottle of coke, I shook my body and my lips went, “Bbbbrrrrrrrrrr!!!” A lot of Ghanaians and football fans had fun and are still having fan with this latest catchphrase by Coca-Cola.

Just before and during the first half of the CAN 2008 tournament Coca-Cola heavily advertised their new diet coke, Coke Delight and football related advertisements. Pepsi did too, but the “Bbbrrrrrrr” TV advertisements caught on so well with the public. Thus I had assumed all along that Coca-Cola was an official co-sponsor of the MTN Ghana 2008, after all they were one of the sponsors of the World Cup 2006. And I was terribly wrong. Then I began to take note of the sparse Pepsi TV ads and billboards in town competing with Coca-Cola. I couldn’t identify with the white model-singer in one of the Pepsi ads- is she African? - (yeah not all Africans are black!) Who is she? I looked forward to a more exciting television ad that would counteract the ads of their long-time competitors, but didn't get much.

Ooh well, we thank Pepsi for co-sponsoring the tournament and wish their marketing team better strategies in the rest of 2008. Coca-Cola, I say, do it again! Bbbrrrrrrrrrr!!!

An Internet Savvy way of Supporting Charity Organizations

I came across www.everyclick.com sometime last year, through BasicNeeds website. Everyclick is a way of raising funds for charity at the click of your search button, at NO cost to yourself and to the organisation you support. Trust me, no cost!

Here is how it works. Go to www.everyclick.com and sign up by giving your details (much is not required though:)) and choose from a list of charity organizations the one you want to support financially. Then make everyclick your homepage.

There are no advertising, no pop ups on everyclick. You'll get an update from everyclick of how much you've raised for your organization from time to time. Though everyclick is not as efficient as google search bar, it is certainly worth using! And it's clean!

Convinced? Then join me at www.everyclick.com in such an internet savvy charitable effort.

Powered by Everyclick