PORTUGAL:Battle of Aljubarrota

                                                         
   The Battle of Aljubarrota was a battle fought between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Crown of Castile on 14 August 1385. Forces commanded by King John I of Portugal and his general Nuno Alvares Pereira, with the support of English allies, opposed the army of King John I of Portugal with its Aragonese, Italian and French allies at São Jorge, between the towns of Leiria and Alcobaca, in central Portugal. The result was a decisive victory for the Portuguese, ruling out Castilian ambitions to the Portuguese throne, ending the 1389-85 crisis and assuring John as King of Portugal.
Portuguese independence was confirmed and a new dynasty, the House of Aviz, was established. Scattered border confrontations with Castilian troops would persist until the death of John I of Castile in 1390, but these posed no real threat to the new dynasty. To celebrate his victory and acknowledge divine help, John I of Portugal ordered the construction of the monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria na Batalha and the founding of the town of Batalha. The king, his wife Philippa of Lancaster, and several of his sons are buried in this monastery, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The initiative of starting the battle was with the Castilian side.Around six o'clock in the afternoon the Castilian army was ready for battle. According to John of Castile, in his report of the battle, his soldiers were by then very tired from the march that had started early in the morning under a blazing August sun but unknown to them,there was an ambush by the French forces.During the night and throughout the next day, as many as 5000 more Castilians were killed by the neighbouring inhabitants; according to Portuguese tradition surrounding the battle, there was a woman called Brites de Almeida, the Padeira of Aljubarrota (the baker-woman of Aljubarrota), said to be very tall and strong, and to possess six fingers on each hand, who by herself killed eight Castilian soldiers as they were hiding in her bakery in the town of Aljubarrota after the battle. This story is clouded in legend and hearsay, but the popular intervention in the massacre of Castilian troops after the battle is, nevertheless, historical and typical of battles in this period, when there was no mercy toward the defeated enemy.
On the morning of the following day, the true dimension of the battle was revealed: in the field, the bodies of Castilians were enough to dam the creeks surrounding the small hill. In face of this, the Portuguese King offered the enemy survivors an amnesty and free transit home; an official period of mourning was decreed in Castile that would last until the Christmas of 1387. The French cavalry had suffered yet another defeat (after Crécy and Poitiers) to English defensive tactics, even though they were to eventually defeat the English and unify their country in the final stages of the Hundred Years' War.
In October 1385, Nuno Álvares Pereira led a pre-emptive attack against Merida, in Castilian territory, defeating an even larger Castilian army than at Aljubarrota in the battl of Valverde, in Valverde de Merida.
Scattered border skirmishes with Castilian troops would persist for five years more until the death of John I of Castile in 1390, but posed no real threat to the Portuguese crown; recognition from Castile would arrive only in 1411 with the signing of the Treaty of Ayllon(Segovia).
This victory of Aljubarrota confirmed John of Aviz as the uncontested King of Portugal and the House of Aviz ascended to the crown of Portugal. In 1386, the closeness of relations between Portugal and England resulted in a permanent military alliance with the Treaty of Windsor , the oldest still active in existence.
John's marriage to Philippa of Lancaster in 1387 initiated the Portuguese second dynasty, and their children went on to make historically significant contributions. Duarte, or Edward of Portugal, became the eleventh King of Portugal known as "The Philosopher" and "The Eloquent", and his brother Prince Henrique, or Henry the Navigator, sponsored expeditions to Africa.
In commemoration of the Battle of Aljubarrota the Portuguese erected the Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory (Portuguese: "Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória"), one of the best original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style.
In 1393 a chapel in honor of St. Mary and St. George was erected in the place where the standard of D. Nuno Alvares Pereira had been during the confrontation, allowing us to know the precise geographic location of the battle site.
In 1958, archeologist Afonso do Paço organized the first campaign of excavations, revealing the complex defensive system consisting of about 800 pits and dozens of defensive ditches and revealing one of the best preserved battlefields of the period of the Hundred Years' War.
In March 2002, under the initiative of Antonio Champalimaud, the Battle of Aljubarrota Foundation was created. The Foundation began its activity by recovering the battlefield of Aljubarrota. Through a Protocol established with the Ministry of Defense in August 2003, the Foundation received authorization to transform the Military Museum into a modern Interpretation Center of the Battle of Aljubarrota. This Interpretation Center was inaugurated on October 11, 2008.
On December 28, 2010, the Portuguese Official Journal published the Decret-Law n.º 18/2010, which states the legal recognition of the battlefield of Aljubarrota with the category of "National Monument".

Compiled by Damiáno Aloisius

WIVES:9 Things You Should Never Ask Your Husband

                                  

In a marriage, spouses continually need each other, whether it's for emotional support during a hard time or to attend a boring work event so one doesn't have to suffer alone. But some expectations of your husband—or of your marriage—are unrealistic. Here, experts draw the line between what's acceptable and what's simply asking too much.

1. To choose between you and his mother:
Whatever your issue is with his mother—maybe he sometimes puts her first over you or you two simply don't get along—drop it for your husband's (and your relationship's) sake. She is, after all, the reason he exists in the first place. "Will it kill you to let her sit in the passenger seat when he drives, and you take the rear? Yes, it's demeaning, but keep the situation in perspective," says relationshiMasinip expert April. "Don't put the burden of your issues with her on him. You'll drive a wedge between the two of you, not him and his mom."

2. To listen to you like a female friend would.

Your husband should hear you out in tough times, but he shouldn't be your personal venting to-go. "Men and women tend to have different goals with communication, with men concerned about identifying and fixing problems, and women expressing feelings and connecting emotionally, says relationship expert David Bennett, author of Eleven Dating Mistakes Women Make (And How to Correct Them). "To expect him to actively listen to gossip will make him frustrated, and you will be frustrated when he doesn't fulfill that role adequately."

3. To never notice another woman.

Men—and many of their wives, too—can't help but notice a beautiful woman, says relationship coach Jason Nik, and it's unreasonable to expect your husband to divert his glance whenever a pretty female walks by. "Looking is natural, and it's not even unhealthy as long as it's just looking," Nik says. Obviously, if your husband is full-on flirting with another woman (beautiful or not), confront him about his behavior.

4. To give up his passions, whether professional or personal.

Your husband's interests are likely part of what attracted you to him in the first place, so resist resenting the time and energy he spends on those things once you're married. "When a husband throws himself into work or a hobby, it isn't to ignore family, but to ground himself for his overall happiness," says Bennett. That said, balance is key: His passion shouldn't deny you regular family time or a weekly date night.

5. To be a different man.

It's natural to occasionally wonder why did I marry this person? after many years together. But remember that a trait you loathe in your husband may be the flip-side of one you love, says South Florida–based licensed marriage and family therapist Nakya Reeves. Say your spontaneous husband has trouble staying on schedule. Reeves suggests picking your battles: You may really need him to pick the kids up on time, but let his habit of being late for dinner go.

As for the truly crucial tasks, "explain to him where the duty fits in for the family's overall plan for the day; then, discuss your responsibilities," Reeves advises. "That way, he feels like he's a part of the decision to take accountability for picking up the children, rather than simply feeling he's being nagged."

 6. To stop seeing his friends.

Your husband needs outside confidantes, pals of his own gender who he can, well, be a guy around, just like you need time with your female friends. "If you cut off those resources, he's going to be less healthy and less happy, and chances are, see you as the source of those feelings," says Masini.

As far as female friends go, "if she's not able to honor boundaries—as in, she's inappropriately seductive—then it's time for him to give her a fond farewell, and let her know that this isn't right in the context of his marriage," says clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula, PhD.

7. To remember every moment in your relationship that was special to you.

Women tend to retain emotional memories better than men do—our brains are simply wired that way.While you remember the exact date and time of your engagement, your husband likely doesn't.

If a milestone matters to you, communicate that directly with your husband beforehand. If he still overlooks it, be direct and calmly explain why you're disappointed: Don't guilt-trip him or expect him to telepathically understand how his oversight affected you. "It's unrealistic to expect that he interpret the deepness of your sigh. FBI experts go through years of training for that," Reeves says.

8. To share all of your interests.

Don't ask him to join you frequently for activities you like but he doesn't, advises relationship expert Tina B.. Tessina, PhD. In fact, enjoying time apart with your separate passions will strengthen your bond. "Give him the chance to feel your absence from time to time," she says. "He'll react by getting back into courting behavior and letting you know he appreciates you." Then, you can do something you both enjoy together, which allows you to create fun memories—and be fun for each other, Dr. Tessina says.

Written by Natasha Burton

WIFE:Help Your Husband to Lead When He Doesn’t Know How

                                 

If a husband doesn’t know how to lead his family…

If your husband is lacking leadership abilities because he didn’t have a role model or his role model was a poor example while your man was growing up, you can do the following:

• Pray for the Lord to bring Godly men into your husband’s life.
• Encourage him to be in the Word of God.  If this is not something he normally does, then make sure he sees you doing it.  Your actions may spur him to get into the Word as well.
• Encourage him to attend men’s conferences that are centered around the Word of God.
• Encourage him to read books on Godly leadership that applies to marriage/parenting.
• If he’s open to reading and learning, buy him a book or two for Christmas!  But if he would be offended by this, then refrain from doing it.
• Pray for the Lord to give him a desire to grow as the leader of his family.
• If you’re leading, then take a step back so he can take a step forward.
• Ask him questions about how he wants things to happen in your marriage, family and home life.  He may not have answers right away, but give him time to process, and then when he does know what he wants, then follow his lead.

If your man is insecure about his leadership abilities because he’s been torn down and discouraged by family, friends, co-workers, etc., then you can do the following:

• Let him know how highly you think of him.
• Build him up.  Speak highly of him in front of others.
• Encourage him in his areas of strengths, talents and skills.
• Praise him for the good things he’s doing in his life and praise him for what he’s doing in your marriage and family.
• Praise him when he’s starting to lead.
• If you have a tendency to lead, then take a step back from being in control of your marriage and family life.  Keep handing the reins over to your husband.
• Pray for the Lord to give him a desire to grow as the leader of his family.
• Ask him questions about how he wants things to happen in your marriage, family and home life.  He may not have answers right away, but give him time to process.  When he does know what he wants then make sure you follow his lead without grumbling, criticizing and second-guessing his decisions.  Remember, you are wanting to build him up so he’ll continue to lead.

In my own life I did not have Godly role models to help me to know how to be a Godly woman, wife and mother.  I had to learn how to be a woman after God’s own heart.  In fact, when my man asked me to marry him, I freaked out.  Yes, I wanted to be his wife, but I didn’t know how to be a Godly wife; one who was submissive, respectful, and one who was like the Proverbs 31 woman. Submission, respectfulness, and domestication were three areas that I didn’t know a thing about! It’s like those 3 things and me were like oil and water.  I didn’t know how they would ever mix together but I did have a desire to learn, however, I needed help.
I needed to be encouraged to grow in the Lord.  I needed a lot of grace and praise.  What I didn’t need was criticism nor a husband who took over my areas of responsibilities   If he did those things, then it made me feel worthless and incapable of growing as a Godly woman.  I’m thankful for my man’s encouragement, praise and patience.  Those three things were exactly what I needed to grow as a Godly wife!

Now, what a husband needs when he doesn’t know how to lead or if he’s insecure about his abilities, is a wife who is gentle, compassionate and one who believes in her man.  You’re loving and encouraging support will cause him to blossom into his leadership role.

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.  2 Corinthians 13:11

Written by Jolene Engle

Former Isreali President, Shimon Peres is dead

                        
Israeli ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shimon Peres died on Wednesday some two weeks after suffering a major stroke, his doctor said, triggering an outpouring of grief for the beloved elder statesman.
The 93-year-old died in his sleep at around 3:00 am (0000 GMT).
Peres held nearly every major office in the country, serving twice as prime minister and also as president, a mostly ceremonial role, from 2007 to 2014.
He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his role in negotiating the Oslo Accords, which envisioned an independent Palestinian state.

WIVES:50 Ideas to Inspire Your Husband

                                           
There’s an old joke about one of our presidents walking with his wife, who sees one of her old boyfriends in a less-than-glorious occupation. The president looks at the old boyfriend and remarks, "If you hadn’t married me, you might be married to that guy."
The first lady answers calmly, "If I had married him, he’d be president."
Now, occupation is not the measure of a man. But as a wife, you do possess a unique power to inspire your husband. Your loving vision of the man he’s becoming propels him toward greatness—not necessarily by the world’s yardstick of success, or even your own, but by God’s.
When you believe in him, he is secure. He can take the leaps of faith required to surmount fear. He can bear up under pressure, pioneer new territory.
An inspired husband feels the freedom to reach the fullest potential of the man God has created him to be. He’s not merely encouraged. He's a man who's empowered; a conqueror. If you want to give your man some “wind beneath his wings”… start here.
1. Send him an e-mail. Example: “Praying for you today. Thanks for being so courageous in ___.” 
2. Give him one night on a regular basis to do something he loves.
3. Consistently mention ways you see him growing to be more like Christ.
4. Initiate great sex.
5. Ask him about his “bucket list”—the top list of things he’d like to do in his lifetime.
6. Give him a book or audio CD to learn about something he loves doing.
7. Ask him about some dreams he has—and pray about them together, evaluating them. Then ask how you can help him go after them.
8. Text him on a stressful day. Example: “REMINDER: I BELIEVE IN U.”
9. Make sure he feels respected by you.
10. Leave sticky notes in his lunch, on his steering wheel, in his briefcase, etc. “So proud of all you’ve been doing with ___”. “You are so great with our kids.” “You are my dream come true.” “You are an incredible lover.”
11. Suggest that he take some time to go pursue a hobby.
12. Leave a message on his voicemail: “Thanks for going to work every day to take care of our family. You are so good at what you do.”
13. Ask him how you can pray for him at work. Later on in the week, get an update from him on what you’ve prayed for.
14. Be proactive about doing something together that he really enjoys. Make a date, get him excited, and share his enthusiasm!
15. Tell him areas he’s gifted in. Don’t stretch the truth: Be honest so he can trust you.
16. Pray for him.
17. Initiate great sex.
18. Start and keep a “Dreams” binder with him. Include some travel brochures or whatever gets you both energized. In the back, make sure you have a “Dreams turned reality!” file.
19. Talk with your husband about setting aside a small part of the budget to pursue the unique ways God has designed him (including his gifts, abilities, and passions)—through education or through sheer enjoyment.
20. Post on his Facebook wall: “I love being your wife! See me tonight regarding this.”
21. Gently communicate with him about what you like in bed, and respond encouragingly to his attempts.
22. Remember a dream that he had a long time ago. Talk with him about whether it’s still a dream—and still a possibility.
23. Ask God to open your eyes to the ways He has made your husband unique, and to give you wisdom about how to maximize that workmanship.
24. Have your children write him notes or letters about what they love about him as a dad.
25. Initiate great sex.
26. Ban yourself from nagging, which is the Great Life-Sucker.
27. Ask, “If I could do one thing that would really empower you and inspire you, what would it be?” Then listen, resist being defensive (the hard part), and follow through.
28. Remind him of specific times when he’s made an impact on other people’s lives. “Hey, I was thinking the other day about all the time you invested in that Cub Scout troop. Wonder what those boys are doing now. It was so cool to watch them grow with you as their leader.” “Our son has grown so much in encouraging people lately. He gets that from you; you are such a good example for him in that.”
29. Buy him something small to stoke the fires: A journal for a writer, some carpentry pencils for a woodworker, some grilling tools for the master chef. Add a sweet note: “Just because I love the way you’re made.”
30. Do something fun and unexpected together. A few ideas to try: paintball; laser tag; on a spring day, have a picnic, blow bubbles, and bring the books you’re reading; swing; play a pick-up game of a sport together; go to a drive-in movie, bring popcorn, and instigate a make-out session.
31. Think about a way you’ve been hurting him or annoying him. Or there may be ways you’re not “seeing” him—not stepping into his world to understand what it’s like to be him, with all of the things he cares about. Apologize, and work hard at showing true change.
32. Initiate great sex.
33. Go to a home improvement store to plan a small, doable project that energizes both of you, even if it’s just painting a room or fixing up some landscaping. (Hint: Be positive that it’s something by which he won’t feel burdened.)
34. With quality, complete something from his to-do list for him—something that he’d rather have you do anyway.
35. Find a mutually enjoyable activity you like doing together on a regular basis, even if it’s as simple as playing the Wii together after the kids are in bed.
36. Create a cheerful atmosphere when he comes home.
37. Design a date night that will help him to de-stress and have fun.
38. Discover his “love language,” and become fluent in it.
39. Pray about and pursue at least one dream of your own, talking with him about it. An inspired wife breeds inspiration.
40. What’s difficult about his life right now? Pray for his endurance, and encourage him specifically. Galatians 6:9 is a great start for both. Think, What can I do to ease the load he’s carrying?
41. Organize or clean something in your home that you know he finds messy.
42. Send a snail-mail love note to him at the office, affirming him in his work.
43. Think of something on his honey-do list at home that he finds overwhelming or for which he doesn’t have much time. Talk with him (respectfully and gently) about the possibility of hiring someone to do it. Communicate clearly that it’s not because you find him incompetent, but that you want to free him up from a burden.
44. Initiate great sex.
45. Be a student of your husband. Does he feel inspired if he has all his ducks in a row? If he has a creative space to think? If he feels verbally affirmed?
46. If your man is into dressing nice, go with him to shop for clothes in which he feels confident.
47. Let him overhear you speaking well of him on the phone, among friends, or in public places. And to your mother.
48. In his area of weakness, pray about how to subtly, gently step in and help him.
49. Tell him what a great dad he is. Be specific.
50. If and when he messes up, respond with the kind of grace, compassion, and mercy that God gives you. Respond in a way that communicates, You’re safe with me—and I’m not going to rehash your failures. This is a secure place for you to grow … and I love the journey with you.
 

Written By Janel Breitenstein

WIVES: Ways to Help Your Husband Step Up to Manhood

                                      
A wife plays a pivotal role in her husband’s transition from boyhood into manhood.
 You’ve probably heard the saying, “Behind every successful man is a strong woman.” Though the statement has been ridiculed as anti-woman, it is, in fact, very true. When you married your husband, he was unsure of himself as a man and was unskilled as a husband. It’s true of all boys who have grown up and gotten married. What males need—what your husband needs—is a wife who believes in him, encourages him, and helps him step up to become the man God created him to be.

Here are five ways you can influence your husband’s successful transition to manhood:
1. Choose maturity. Sometimes in your marriage, one or both of you can act selfishly. If you’ve been married longer than two weeks you know this is true. Have you ever seen two children riding their bikes, and when the child in front stops, the child behind begins to ram his or her bike into the one in front instead of asking that child to move over? It’s called needling or just plain intimidation. Oftentimes the kid in front gets mad and the situation escalates. I’ve watched my children relate to each other this way. It’s called childishness. And a parent’s job is to train children to communicate verbally with kindness, not physically with bullying.
Sadly most of us enter marriage still clinging to some childishness in our behavior patterns. Your husband may act like an adolescent at times, but the problem cannot be solved by manipulation, intimidation, or criticism. One of you needs to choose maturity first to get out of the cycle. Set aside the emotions as much as you can and speak with kindness. Communicating with maturity is a choice. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” A woman who wants to help her husband grow into a strong, godly man can help by becoming mature herself.
2. Speak the truth in love. In our marriage, I've come to Dennis many times to speak the truth about what's going on in our family or what I feel is missing in our relationship. There have been seasons when he was traveling too much. At other times I sensed that one of our children needed a father’s focus.
One of my favorite Bible stories is the one about Esther. Even though she was married to a man who was not a believer in the God of her people, she still treated him with great respect as her husband and her leader. When she discovered the plot to exterminate all the Jews—her people—she didn’t go running into his office crying hysterically and yelling at him for making such a foolish mistake. Instead she prayed before going to inform him that he had signed her death warrant.
What Esther shows all of us wives is the importance of approaching our husbands with difficult information in a way that is easy for them to hear. Esther made a great dinner and talked to her husband after he had eaten. Sometimes the information or the truth must be told immediately without the kind of preparation Esther made. But many times we wives can wait until the kids are in bed or after he’s had dinner or we can even wait a day or two to make sure we speak wisely. Wives would benefit from praying before we speak the truth to our husbands. And so would our husbands.
Proverbs 16:21 says, “The wise of heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” What a great verse for wives! But don’t sugarcoat the truth either. He needs to know the whole truth in any situation, but it can be said with grace and wisdom and kindness. At the same time remind him that God is in control and that you are trusting God and him. You are a team in marriage. Be on his team and help him win!
3. Praise your husband when he steps up to manhood. When he leads family devotions, when he prays with you, or when he makes decisions that are especially responsible, thank him. Just as you want to cheer your kids when they do something right, you need to cheer your husband. Your words to your husband are powerful. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Encouraging him and praising him when he does what's right is one way you can help him be the man that God wants him to be.
4. Believe that your husband can grow to become a more godly man. If you believe in your husband … if you accept him as who he is … if you trust God and then allow God to work in his life … God might just surprise you. One of my favorite verses, Luke 1:37, says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Perhaps you’ve been married for more than 20 years, and you really think your husband can’t and won’t change. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. The King of Heaven is not finished with your husband, and you need to believe both in God and in your husband. Don’t underestimate what God can do!
5. Pursue godliness. You will encourage your husband to become a godly husband if you choose first to become a godly wife. As Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” If you’re seeking to become righteous, then you will be more in tune with what God is doing all around you, including allowing God to work on your husband. Focus on your attitude and your own pursuit toward godliness.
Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Stepping up to manhood is a process for your husband, but so is your helping him. As with all processes, sometimes there are setbacks. Your husband might be doing well, making good decisions, and acting responsibly, but something happens that causes him to step back into adolescence from manhood. When he does something that’s childish or foolish, your responsibility is not to berate and belittle him. Instead, be the kind of wife who can call him up to manhood.

Written by Barbara Rainey
 Barbara Rainey is a wife, mother of six adult children (plus three sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law), and "Mimi" to nineteen grandchildren.
Barbara has published articles on family-related topics and is the author of Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember and When Christmas Came.  She speaks at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage conferences and is a frequent guest on FamilyLife Today, a nationally syndicated, daily radio program.

The Platform 11.0

 An old time revivalist in this country once wrote that if there was any mistake made in the past by the Church in Nigeria, it was our lack of intervention in the nation’s societal fabric

Over the years, many people have asked me why we do The Platform. A good number of people thought maybe there was an underlying political motive. Let me state categorically; there wasn't then and there isn’t any now.

The Church i.e. the Body of Christ consist of different members with diverse roles united under the headship of Christ. As the human body has various organs carrying out specific assignments so does Paul say there is diversity in the Body of Christ. (1 Cor 12: 5,6)

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, which worked all in all.

The Platform is not a believer’s meeting neither is it primarily an evangelistic tool to get people born-again though it may serve that purpose in some unconventional ways that results in the individual being reborn. The Platform simply has the prophetic function of preservation.

The Bible says we are the salt of the earth. Salt preserves and in some instances, helps to stop or at least slow down the decaying process. Whatever we do and however we pray, it is inevitable that this present world being under divine judgment will cease to exist one day. God, to minimize the impact of this eventuality has placed His Church to act in one of its functions as the salt of the earth so that the process of corruption and moral decay is held back. 

Venue: The Harbour Point, 4, Wilmot Point Road off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Date: October 1st, 2013.
Time: 9am
For Details and Registration, Visit: www.theplatformnigeria.com