In part one, I explained how crypto works. I talked about why it may go up and why it may come down as it is currently. I explained that if it will blossom, there are three ways to do it. The first is Government Policy. I explained that if countries approve it as a legal tender, it will become gold for the holders. But so far, more countries are banning it, some zoned it under some financial regulations but none have adopted it fully except for El-Salvador. In the first part, I also mentioned the reason why governments are reluctant to adopt it and the unlikely prospect. You can read it up here-
https://healingnexusblog.com/lets-talk-about-cyptocurrency/

In this second part, let’s talk about how big-wig private investors can influence the status of crypto which is the second option crypto has to survive and be sustained according to my analysis.

Early this year, crypto was on the rise, why? Elon Musk, the 2nd richest man in the world and CEO of Tesla company said his company would accept crypto for the purchase of electric cars. That news alone gave crypto a boost. Other smaller companies, as expected, started investing in it. A few months later, Elon said they would no longer accept crypto and those who have used it to book for electric cars will have their order cancelled. With that news, crypto fell and it’s yet to be back on its feet.

The value of any currency is in its purchasing power. If crypto can be used to buy things in the mainstream market, its value would be on the rise and it is only private companies owners that can drive this since governments are not adopting it for use.

But why are investors reluctant about it? I believe a part of them is concerned about governments but Elon Musk said it was because of the power consumption involved in mining crypto and the e-waste it generates. As an environmentalist who wants to reverse climate change, he felt he has a moral obligation to back out from the promotion of crypto. That leads us to the question, what does the mining of crypto mean?

Mining as we know is the process of extracting natural resources such as gold, coal and the rest from the earth. In the case of crypto, miners are those who process the buying and selling- transaction of crypto through complex computations. They are spread all across the nations of the earth and they are paid in crypto. But how does mining consume power? How does it affect the climate?

Investopedia reported that bitcoin alone uses 121-Terrawatt hours of electricity in a year more than what Argentina as a whole uses in a year. Digiconomist also said that Ethereum consumes as much power as used by the whole nation of Qatar in a year. The power they consume is not the problem but the source. Researchers at the University of Cambridge reported that 65% of miners are based in China, a country that generates most of its power through the burning of coal and fossil fuels. This, of course, has a serious implication on the climate. Bitcoin alone generates 35.95 million tons of carbon dioxide (fumes) in a year, the same as what the whole of New Zealand generates in a year.

Secondly, the special device they use alongside the computers cannot be reused and they soon become obsolete. This amounts to the generation of electronic wastes which are harmful to the environment. According to Digiconomist, bitcoin alone generates 8-12 thousand tons of e-waste in a year. The complicated aspect is that the higher the price, the higher the consumption of power and generation of wastes.

The world is currently working on an extreme reduction in the emissions of carbon dioxide as well as the generation of wastes that cause climate change and are harmful to the environment. Elon Musk believes he has an obligation to sustain this because he’s into battery making and electric cars which helps to produce a healthy environment.

While I assume that, the reasons Elon cited were mere excuses, crypto networks have also claimed that most miners are not using unrenewable energy sources but renewables such as hydroelectricity and solar. Some crypto are also working towards the total elimination of mining. If that is widely adopted and effective, maybe it could boost the confidence of private company owners especially the big boys.

Talking about the big boys, recently, crypto stopped dropping- do you know why? Two major things: Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter and lover of crypto held a discussion with Elon Musk. In the debate or discussion, Elon mentioned that his company still has an investment in crypto worth millions of dollars and that they may soon resume accepting crypto for their products. The second factor is the rumour that Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and the richest man in the world is contemplating accepting crypto.

Those two events boost public confidence in crypto even though I am of the opinion that the rumour is actually false. But let’s assume it’s true for a second.

Amazon is the biggest e-market in the world. It runs just like Jumia or let me say, Jumia runs just like it. If it accepts crypto, that will increase the purchasing power of crypto. More investors will follow suit and that will mean wealth for crypto owners. I really wish this would happen and nothing is impossible but bear in mind that private investors are in any business to make themselves richer and not to make you richer. If the odds favour them perfectly, they will do it.

The third force that could make crypto increase in value is public acceptance. Allow me to explain how this works in the third article. I may also explain the introduction of new cryptocurrencies owned by countries and investors which are meant to compete with the existing ones.

Note:
Information and statistics quoted are based on what obtains at the moment of writing the article.

Ife Adetona
©August 2021

This generation is asking too many questions and either we like it or not, we can no longer tell them to shut up. If we refused to answer them, false shepherds are everywhere, ready to answer.

One of their questions is “where’s is my tithe going to?” Who is spending it?

According to the Levitical Priesthood, all tithes go to the welfare of the family of the Levites. Levite is one of the 12 tribes of Israel chosen as ministers. None in their clan is permitted to work or own private business and so, the tithe is majorly meant for their welfare.

But we are no more in the Levitical order of Priesthood. We belong to the Davidic Priesthood. David was the first man to act as a priest without belonging to the family of Levi. Jesus came from that root. He made everyone priests and ministers but also created certain offices to minister to the body of Christ. We call it the five-fold offices.

How does that relate to tithes?
The Levites were allowed to have the tithes because no one in their family was working. The father, the mother, the sister, the uncle and so on were not working. But in this dispensation, it is only the minister that doesn’t do secular work. At most, the minister and his wife and so, I don’t see why the tithes paid directly into the ministry purse should go to the G.O or whoever heads the ministry.

The truth is, this is not new. And I break everything down in our School of Ministry. That churches and ministries are not telling us about it doesn’t mean they are not doing it. In most places, the pastor doesn’t spend or eat the tithe you give. There may be a few places where they do eat tithes and even offering without accounting for it but I can tell you with my whole chest that most ministries around the world don’t eat members’ tithes. Tithes are well recorded and accounted for in most places. Even as a guest minister on a Sunday in some churches, you would be asked to sign on it.

What is my tithe used for?
The items David collected were all used for the building of the temple. David even emptied his personal account for the same purpose. And that is what happens today. Your tithes go into the development of the house of God. Note: this doesn’t include the ones you are led to personally pay to a man of God. The ones paid into the ministry account or tithe box are used to finance projects. Pastors also pay their tithe and seed for the same purpose just like David.

What will pastors eat?
The employer of pastors which is God feeds them. Meanwhile, we advise pastors to place themselves on salary and that’s for those who aren’t on secular jobs. Many ministries do this. Even G.O and Presidents are placed on Salary. Billy Graham was on salary. Bishop Oyedepo was on salary. This salary is always small compared to secular jobs and many give it up after some time. Some never take it at all. The salary should be known to some members of the exco and it can be drawn from anywhere including from the tithes but not all of it.

What about the needee?
First thing, the needee are not entitled to tithes.
Judas was quick to condemn Jesus that He was spending the money that was supposed to go to the needee but Jesus corrected that impression. He said that we can never fully meet the needs of the needees on earth.

However, Jesus, while He was on earth had a package for the needee. He had a system and % for them and Judas, the treasurer was in charge. So, ministries are encouraged to devise their own system and package for the poor and those in need. And let me tell you this categorically: there’s no ministry that doesn’t meet needs on a regular basis. It may be structured or unstructured but they do it almost daily or weekly. Only that many don’t announce it with cameras and social media.

My first-year school fees in NCE for instance was paid by the Student Mission Division of the Nigerian Baptist Convention. I got a loan from the Scripture Union for my first University fee. There are many on Winners Scholarship. RCCG built ICU in hospitals. I know a church here in Ibadan with around 300 members who fed the poor with one million Naira during the lockdown of last year. No news, no blog, no social media. CAC have run free/cheap maternity since 1930. Many of those running their mouths today were given birth to there.

I hope this answered your question of where your tithes go to?

Talking about spiritual fathers or mothers as the case may be, many youths didn’t understand the rules that determine whom you pick as your spiritual father.

The basic rule is ACCESS. It is not fame, it is not anointing and it is not about gifts. It is, first of all, access. Someone you can talk to when you want to. Someone who can call you up at any moment. Someone you can reach at a time of emergency. Someone who recognizes you. Someone who can put his schedules aside and quickly attend to you. Someone who will be there for you. That is whom you choose as a father.

Yes, there are fathers of faith in the land which we admire. They serve as father figures and mentors but when you want to pick a father who has a watch over you, you determine it by access. You may be blessed by a person’s radio/TV administration or books or broadcast but access comes first. Ironically, you may not even be able to reference much of your spiritual father’s messages or quotes like you do to other father figures depending on how resourceful he is yet, you are sure of one thing- access.

I could have mentioned other factors but I want to leave it at that in this write-up. I have fully listed and explained the factors guiding selecting a father in my teaching: “mentorship & discipleship”. It’s available on Telegram t.me/sadozite.

I was in that shoe many years ago. God asked me to follow Bishop Oyedepo, I argued that the things people do say about him won’t let me identify with him. I told God that Kenneth Hagin- was enough for me. He told me: “you need a living man who is working on current principles of this age”. After, more persuasions I submitted. Then, after some time again, He told me to get a father and He directed me to whom it would be. Again, I argued that Bishop David Oyedepo was enough for me, after all, I listen to his messages and read his books. That was when he taught me about ACCESS.

I visit my father and talk with him occasionally but the only time I have gone to discuss any challenge at all with him was once and he prayed with me. I haven’t had any reason to request to see him urgently but I know that he’s there for me even when he’s out of the country. So, when I say access, it’s not about choking a person up. I have children who have listened to 80% of my messages and books and we haven’t spoken in a while. But if they need me this moment, I will be there.

And let me add this, don’t leave a man whom you had IMPART+ACCESS and hunt after a man of fame. You will meet people more anointed than your father. But that a man is richer than your biological father doesn’t mean your father is no longer your father. Don’t become spiritually fatherless thinking you are connected. Don’t make a mentor a father and don’t make a father a mentor. All fathers of faith, are not your spiritual father, so to speak.

And yes, you can switch fathers based on some factors which I mentioned in that teaching but don’t let it be because of childishness or little offence.

What more do you want me to add?

I have received questions from people who wanted to decide on buying crypto. Their first concern is, it is legit? Yes, it is.
Is it profitable? It can be highly profiting.
Is it risky? It is very risky.
The law of investment says the higher the profit, the more the risk.

That being said, I do like to examine crypto from the perspective of a currency. At least, it is called a digital currency which means, a currency that is not on paper but can be transacted online.

The value of every currency is in its “purchasing power”. Dollars, for instance, is not the highest in terms of foreign exchange but it is the most powerful. Do you know why? It can buy more items without converting it into another currency. Naira as it is has a purchasing power though limited. The question is, what is the purchasing power of crypto? Can it be spent in the mainstream market? What items can I buy with it? Can I use it to buy a product on Jumia or Amazon? Can I transfer it to a woman selling clothes in Gbagi market?

For crypto to be sustained, it has to increase its purchasing power. That was what happened early this year that made it gain its highest value in history. When Elon Musk announced that his company was investing in crypto and that people can use it to purchase their product- electric cars, the value of crypto jumped up. But the moment he announced that they will no longer accept it, the value sank up till this moment.

So, a currency can only be sustained when its purchasing power increases. This is what crypto is trying to achieve anyway but they have a long way to go. There are three major ways through which this can be achieved: Government Policy, Bigwig private Investors and Public acceptance. I am going to be expatiating on each.

For a long time, the crypto world has been surviving on the third option but also need the other two to get into the future. In this article, I am going to explain the possibilities and difficulties that surround the three options.

1. Government Policy-

As at the last check, Investopedia reported that more than 10 countries have banned crypto. This includes Nigeria, India and China. Some major countries of the world like the US, UK and Canada have zoned it under some financial regulations and allowed it to be in use but not fully accepted as a legal tender. Some other countries are yet to decide what to do with it. So far, it is only El Salvador 🇸🇻 that has fully accepted crypto as a legal tender.

Crypto will gain much value if it is fully accepted as a legal tender by countries around the world most especially the big brother countries. That would mean that it can be spent in the mainstream market. But that comes with some constraints. Firstly, many countries are concerned that the transaction cannot be tracked. I guess that was why Nigeria banned it. The Endsars protest was mainly sponsored with crypto. At least, the Feminist Coalition that ran the central budget received over 50 million naira in crypto. And the government couldn’t hunt down the donors.

Some countries are concerned that illegal businesses including drugs and terrorism may be funded with it. Some nations don’t want it to overshadow their currency. That’s why India is planning to launch a digital version of its currency. The big brother countries will have to subject crypto to serious financial regulations if it will be adopted.

Maybe crypto can overcome all these hurdles? Maybe not? It is worthwhile to know that its main strength is in the fact that transactions can’t be traced and that is one thing serious-minded countries will not succumb to. They will also want to regulate it to reduce its risk and that will, in turn, reduce its profit. Maybe they will be able to reach a middle ground in the nearest future.

2. Bigwig investors.

The second option for crypto to harness higher purchasing power is what I call “Bigwig investors”. I said it earlier that it was the singular support of Elon Musk, the second richest man in the world that shoot up the value of crypto in recent time. When he dropped his support it went down and it is yet to recover. These investors are owners of big companies that produce commodities which is sold to the mainstream market. If they accept cryptocurrency, people can use it to buy their products thus increasing the purchasing power of the currency.

That’s not all. When a bigwig investor accepts it, the smaller ones including their rival companies will follow suit. This played out when Elon Musk initially declared that people could pay for their electric cars in crypto. Some other companies quickly joined in purchasing and investing in crypto which further helps in shooting up it’s value.

But why did Elon Musk drop his support? Why are other investors careful of adopting it? What are the hopes rising lately which may impart positively on the cryptocurrency? It will be too long to talk about that in this, so let’s have a part 2.

Disclaimer- Things written here reflects my personal opinions based on the latest information available at the point of putting this together.

Ife Adetona
©July, 2021

I have always said this over and over. If you are a young man or lady who is fervent in the things of God but pay little or no attention to your career & academics, you will pay for it in a very hard way.

When the reality of life dawn on you. When you no longer get fed by your parents. When the cares of this world become evident, you may end up losing all your spiritual rigour and become lukewarm.

You must have seen some alumni, brothers & sisters of your school fellowships and churches who tell you stories of when they used to burn, go to village outreaches, raise the dead and all who are now retired as Sunday School teachers and elders or youths coordinators in the Church. Those are even fair. Some are now only Sunday to Sunday believers. Where is the fire? Where is the zeal? Where is “give me the land” prayers? Children must eat and pay school fees!

That’s why our ministry is intentionally wired to ensure spiritual and career balancing. I have seen young men who jumped in and out of our ministry because according to them, we teach success, prosperity and marital instead of fire, mysteries and so on. If they took their time, they could have seen those things too but they wanted just one thing- fireeeeeee.

If you take your spiritual and career together in this early stage of your youth, when you grow older, you will burn as much as you want and glow in life at the same time.

Lam 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Ife Adetona
SADOZ PRESIDENT W/W
©JULY 2021

One day, we were having night devotion in the house. We read from the book of Nehemiah where I needed to mention that Sabbath was a Saturday. I had barely said it when someone blurted out: “is Sabbath not on Sunday?”, another also said: “yes, Sabbath is Sunday”. I was about to explain when I got another objection: “if Sabbath was Saturday then we should go to Church on Saturdays and the ‘7th day Adventist’ should be the right ones.” After saying that, they had exhausted their points and awaited me to respond.

I explained:

1. Sabbath day was Saturday. Sunday is the Lord’s Day. Some call it Resurrection Day or the Christian Sabbath.

Mark 16:1: Sat­urday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magda­lene, Mary the moth­er of James, and Sa­lome went out and pur­chased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.

2.Rev.1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.

Just as the Holy Communion replaced the Passover, the Lord’s day replaced the Sabbath day. Jesus declared that He is the Lord of the Sabbath that means, the Lord’s day supersedes the Sabbath day.

Luk 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

The next question, therefore, is that if observing services on Saturday as against Sunday is a sin. Aside from other doctrinal issues that may be associated with those who prefer to worship on Saturdays, there’s absolutely nothing wrong in worshipping on a Saturday or Friday or whichever day and the Bible established this.

Colossians 2:16: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying going to Church on Sunday is not compulsory. What I am saying is that if a denomination chooses Saturday or Friday for worship, they are still Biblically right provided they aren’t filled with other heresies. I’m not sorry to say, some denominations who chooses other days of worship have other heretic issues. However, some of those who do services on Sunday also have heretic issues. What am trying to say is that, the day is not actually the problem.

Meanwhile, it is wise that a church worships on Sundays given the fact that Sunday is a work-free day in the world culture. I also learnt that some countries declared Friday as a work-free day while Sunday is a work full day. If a missionary is in such a place, it’s just wise he fixes Fridays for his services.

Ife Adetona
SADOZ President W/W
©SADOZ, July 2021