Lightning strikes kill man in Poland and injure dozens across Europe

                                      
One man has died and scores of people been injured, including children, as lightning strikes hit several parts of Europe, including a park in Paris and a football pitch in Germany.
A bolt of lightning killed a man hiking in mountains in south-west Poland. Storm lightning injured three others in the same region, and a 61-year-old man drowned in flash flooding.
In Germany, more than 30 people were taken to hospital in the western village of Hoppstädten when lightning struck at the end of a junior football match. Three adults were seriously injured, including the referee who was hit directly and had to be resuscitated before being airlifted to hospital.

Nigerian Government announces agreement with Niger Delta militants

                                         
The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the ongoing pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region, an official has said.
Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger-Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, said this at the end of a meeting he convened in Benin.
Mr. Boro, a retired Brigadier General, told journalists on Saturday night that the pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the country and inflicting pains on Nigerians. ‎
He urged the agitators to dialogue with the relevant authorities over their grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.‎
He assured that plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants with welfare and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.‎
Mr. Boroh stressed the need to find lasting solutions to the current situation in the region.
The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our areas, in our region that is affecting the economy of the country.
“Personally it makes me feel bad that we don’t know how to solve our problem.‎To you my comrades, it is our responsibility to make sure that insecurity in our environment is well sorted out. Please let us do everything we can to make sure that doesn’t occur again.”‎
Mr. Boroh, who was optimistic about the success of the meeting, said: “We have all resolved that we will put our heads and hands and all in all together to prevent the re-occurrence of this type of thing.”‎
He assured oil firms in the country that the Federal Government is dedicated to end the problems associated with bombing.
“Collectively we (Federal Government and ex-militants) have agreed to work as a team to 2prevent re-occurrence.
“We feel bad that it is happening, it is affecting our economy and it is affecting development and we are very concern about it.”
 Some of the ‘militants’ who were present affirmed to what the special adviser said and pledged to support the federal government to bring lasting peace to the Niger-Delta

Verdun battle centenary marked by France and Germany

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are marking the 100th anniversary of the battle of Verdun, the longest of World War One.

Hundreds of thousands of French and German soldiers died during 10 months of fighting in north-eastern France.
France eventually emerged victorious.
But today Verdun is seen as a symbol of Franco-German reconciliation, which was reflected by both Mr Hollande and Mrs Merkel in their speeches.
The ceremonies started with the leaders visiting the German military cemetery at Consenvoye, just north of Verdun, where 11,000 German soldiers are buried.
The leaders then moved on to a ceremony at Verdun city hall.
In her speech there, Mrs Merkel said: "Only those who know the past can draw lessons and build a good future."
The main commemorative ceremony will be at the Douaumont Ossuary in the afternoon.
It focus on educating young people, and involve some 4,000 French and German children in a performance choreographed by German filmmaker Volker Schloendorff.
Church bells will sound throughout the Verdun area.
Some 60 million shells were fired during the battle. About 25% failed to explode, meaning that housing and farming in the battlefield area are still banned.

Annual Writing Competition

                                 
Writer’s Digest has been shining a spotlight on up and coming writers in all genres through its Annual Writing Competition for more than 80 years. Enter our 85th Annual Writing Competition for your chance to win and have your work be seen by editors and agents! 501 winners will be chosen.The top winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the 85th Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection.
 DEADLINE: June 1, 2016
 Prizes
One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• An announcement of the winner on the cover of Writer’s Digest (subscriber issues only)
• $5,000 in cash
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• One on one attention from four editors or agents
• A paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference!
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• A 30-minute Platform Strategy Consultation with Chuck Sambuchino

The First place winner in each category will receive $1,000 in cash and $100 off a purchase from the Writer’s Digest Shop
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• A one-year Writer’s Digest VIP membership, which includes a one-year subscription (new or renewal) to Writer’s Digest magazine, access to WritersMarket.com for one year, discounts on Writer’s Digest University workshops and discounts off of purchases made at WritersDigestShop.com.
• Their names listed in Writer’s Digest, on WritersDigest.com and in the 84th Annual Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition Collection.

All Honorable Mentions receive:

• 20% discount off of purchases made at WritersDigestShop.com
• Their names listed in the 84th Annual Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition Collection.

Categories

• Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
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• If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner. You may enter online even if you are paying with a check. All checks will be cashed within 60 days of the competition final deadline. Entry fees are non-refundable.
• Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished* and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. Writer’s Digest retains one-time nonexclusive publication rights to the Grand Prize and First Place winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer’s Digest publication.* Entries in the Magazine Feature Article category may be previously published. Any piece posted online, anywhere other than a personal blog, is considered published. For poetry, all online postings are considered published.
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Value Spiritual Things

                                          
                                                        By Pst Chris Oyakhilome

And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? (Genesis 25:32).

Obadiah 1:21 tells us something striking; it says, *_"And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau...."_ Esau represents the godless, the profane or body-ruled; those who don't have value for spiritual things. Such people, the Bible says, are in the flesh and therefore can't please God (Romans 8:8).

Esau was the older brother of Jacob, and because of his profanity, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of food. The spiritual implication of his action didn't quite dawn on him at the time. It wasn't about the food he ate; it was about his disdain for spiritual things. The birthright was spiritual. It had a special blessing, yet Esau forfeited it to his younger brother, because of food. What he wanted was for physical gratification: what he could touch, taste, or feel at that moment. And he got it. He made a carnal choice over that which was spiritual.

Jacob, on the other hand, was smart. He wanted the blessing, and he got it. The blessing is an unseen elixir. The senses can't perceive the blessing. What you can see about the blessing are the results of the blessing. It's like the anointing of God's Spirit; you can't see or touch the anointing, but it's real, and it's supernatural.

There're some today who have no value for spiritual things; they're like Esau. They'll rather sit at home to watch a sports event at the time they ought to be in church. They'd rather accommodate social engagements when they ought to be praying. These are carnal Christians. What life are you living? What are the things that are important to you? What do you set your affections on? Does the blood of Jesus that was shed for you on the cross mean something to you? Do you meditate often on His vicarious sacrifice on your behalf? Have you sat down to contemplate and comprehend the love of God demonstrated towards you? Does He have the rulership in your life every day?

Let Christ, and the reign of His glorious Kingdom be all that truly matters to you. Let your passion for spiritual things, and love for the Master, be evident in all you do.

                    *PRAYER*

Gracious and loving Father, thank you for your love for me, and your glory that's evident in my life. Thank you for your Lordship and leadership over my life, and for your wisdom that guides me always in your perfect will. My life is for your glory, now and always, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

*Further Study:* *||* Hebrews 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. *||*

*||* Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. *||*

*||* Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. *||*

*Daily Scripture Reading*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan:* John 12:20-50,
2 Kings 18-19

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan:* 1 Corinthians 12:22-31,
Proverbs 22