TAKE UP THE CROSS!

The Cross is the Living Form of Truth! Reference is made here to the equal armed radiating Cross of Salvation and Redemption and not the crucifix! I have seen some paintings of Jesus where the equal armed Cross is shown around His head. In reality, this visible form of Truth, the independently radiating Cross was seen living with the Son of God when He tread this world's tempestuous sea!

Therefore, When He told us to take up the Cross and follow Him, it means in all simplicity that we should ACCEPT the TRUTH and live accordingly!

TO BE QUITE HONEST...

Why can't our "yes" be yes, and our "no" be no? I get wary when I hear people start their statements with phrases like: "to be quite honest", "honestly speaking", "Lagbaja or Tamedu can bear me witness", "Actually", "to be sincere", "truly speaking", "You see", "to tell you the truth" etc. Some are even more dramatic and will start by putting their fingers in the sand, then to their tongue and thereafter take it up to face the sky before starting their stories! And...wait for it: surprisingly the stories that follows after all these assurances may not accord with the facts! 10 Gbosas and 10 claps for them for they are good actors and actresses!

THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO STILL WISH TO COMMAND THE ALMIGHTY:

The scripture you are relying on is Isaiah 45:11.Some versions of the Bible for example King James Version, supports your view. It says:

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

Here however are some other Bible versions of the same Isaiah 45:11 which totally negates your stand!

New International Version

This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?

New Living Translation

This is what the LORD says--the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: "Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?

English Standard Version

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

Please permit me close this by urging you to read the whole chapter 45 of the Book of Isaiah to put this important matter in context. You will find in the chapter, statements such as: "Woe to him who strives with his Maker, an earthen vessel with the potter! Does the clay say to him who fashions it, 'What are you making'? or 'Your work has no handles'? Given this context we see clearly that a creature cannot begin to question or issue commands to his Maker. Man should stop all arrogance and presumptions when thinking of God. We need to always bow down in humility before the Omnipotence and Omniscience of the Most High!

THE STORY OF THE SHARK AND FISH.

I put here in my own words a story I heard years ago on radio. A shark once tormented some fish in the ocean to the extent that one day the three horrified fish approached the Lord to seek a way out of the danger. They approached the Lord one after the other. The first fish said "Lord the danger posed by the shark is too much. I beg of Thee, let all of my body turn into eyes so that when the wicked shark approaches, I will quickly

see it and escape". At once its request was granted.

The second fish requested: "O Lord, the only wish I have is that all my body should be converted to feathers. This way, if I sight the merciless shark, I shall be able to fly to safety". At once this request too was granted. The third fish then stepped forward and was asked to make its request. It said "O Lord, my humble request is Thy Mercy!" this too was granted and they all left.

On the way, the first fish sighted the shark at about 20 meters away! You remember that all its body has turned to eyes. This fish started to run as fast as it could, till it reached the coast and into the waiting hands of a fisherman who promptly cooked it for dinner!

The second fish sighted the shark at about 10 meters away and quickly put its newly acquired feathers to use. It flew till it left the surface of the ocean. A hovering eagle snatched this fish midair and had it for lunch! Now the third fish that requested for mercy was swimming too when the shark approached but at about 5 meters to this fish, a strange lightning struck and blinded the eyes of the shark - the shark turned away and the third fish swam to safety.

No doubt, from that story, we can deduce the best form of prayer.

Let us therefore drop the arrogant attitude of making demands on our Lord the Most High in the name of asking, begging and praying. May we from now on humbly plead to Him for His mercy, goodness and the strength to enable us bring into being ourselves what we are praying for!

Conversation -- July 29, 2017

THE BUCK STOPS HERE!

It was the American President S. Truman who popularised the saying above as he kept a sign with that phrase on his  desk during his tenure in the Oval Office. It is also the motto of the U.S. Naval Aircraft Carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75).(Wikipedia). The phrase speaks to the fact that the President has to take decisions and take responsibility which he will not pass on to others.

Therefore today I say that the buck of stupid fantastic stories, unedifying videos and audios, writings that set one faith against another, one section of my country against another stops on reaching my phone, laptop or any other device in my use. I “cast, bind and decree into nothingness” all such posts!  And now follows my presidential order and action: DELETE them immediately. I will not pass the buck on to others.

Permit me to  conclude this essay with the words of Paul, not Paul McCartney but Paul the Apostle  who in his epistle to the Philippians was quoted as follows: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.” Philippians 4:8. By extension, these are also the kinds of things we should share with our friends and loved ones.

GETTING EVEN

Let those who “get even” by hurting those who have wronged them think again because they are only sowing fresh seeds of unpleasant fruit which will soon ripen for them to taste. They will have to eat and drink to the dregs the revenge concoction they have served on others in the name of getting even! It is not in our place to judge and execute our sentences on others as only the Laws of the Almighty work out reward or punishment for human spirits and repays each one with the most incorruptible, severe and  adamantine Justice! Have we not been told that: vengeance is Mine?

Another reward for refusing to forgive those who have offended us is that we will remain chained to them by earthly invisible chains! How about that? Remain unrelenting if you feel that such enslavement is worth it.

Let us therefore forgive others but not forget to protect ourselves from future hurt. We need to guard against a “next time”. We can take a cue from one very notable and revered personality who on May 13, 1981 was shot in public four times at close range. He later forgave the aggressor in prison and asked that he be pardoned by the state. After this incident however, he did not forget to get a more secure mobile car that allowed him to stay close to the people and at the same time provide a higher level of security and safety.

SARCASM

Merriam-Webster dictionary online defines sarcasm as a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain.

Why would anyone wish to indulge in this?

It could well be that there is an urgent need for us to understand that the human word has more significance than we presently think, given our superficiality in rather serious matters. Just like our thoughts, our words too shape our surroundings. Indeed, the words are with us, are from inside of us and we are the words we use! Does that not sound familiar?

Words can give joy and they can give pain; they can build up and can destroy; they can surround us with beauty if they are simple and true but they can cover us with ugliness if they are superficial, false, and full of sarcasm or hatred. We are however meant to work beneficially with the language.

May we henceforth pay more attention to how and when we use the special grace of being permitted to form words. Certainly this gift of being able to use the language comes with the obligation to use it such that joy, beauty and peace will reign wherever we are!  

THOUGHT FOR TODAY July 19, 2017

"Do not spread false reports…” -- Exodus 23:1 New International Version

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” --Mathew 5:37 English Standard Version

“Heed your word! Do not talk merely for the sake of talking. And speak only when, where and how it is necessary!”—“In The Light of Truth”, The Grail Message

Let us think of these lofty concepts today and always.

OSINBAJO.

Many are the pronunciations of the name of the Ag. President of Nigeria that comes one's way. Some even call him OsinbaNjo. No, his name is OSINBAJO and there is only one letter N not two. You will remember this when you understand the meaning of the name. It goes like this:

Osin means king;
Bo means arrive and
Ajo means a long journey.

So, the name Osinbajo is a short form of a full sentence: "Osin bo lati irin ajo" and it means: the king has arrived from a long journey.

Now, this is simply a literal interpretation and yet speaks volumes! The name might still have a much deeper meaning!

"AS COPIED" will not help you!

You wish to broadcast but wish to avoid the attendant responsibility so you add: As copied, forwarded as copied, as received, copied etc. All these disclaimers does not absolve any person who spreads posts on social media or other media that eventually proves to be false. Same goes for hate speeches especially on religion and politics and even those on health. Laughable yet dangerous. Come and see several quack doctors on whats-app! You become or remain a bearer of LIES with all these rubbish news. Do you not know that by this carelessness you can plunge your fellow men into misery and ruin? There is no place for you to hide because you are NOT under any compulsion to spread a post that you have not or are not able to verify. Let us delete such garbage as soon as they land on our devices. Half a word...

SARAKI

Could this be a variation of the word “Sarki” in Hausa? In Hausa language Sarki translates to: emir, king or chief. A Sarki can also be a Prince of a particular area. The term is generally linked with royalty. In the same vein, the Yoruba have the word “Seriki” which means: a chieftain. 

In my experiencing, I have come to know that the Yoruba people use the word “saraki” as a description of a person of worth!

A person is described as saraki by the Yoruba when he is considered to be: noble, eminent, important, urbane, civilized, of high integrity and a person within the society worthy of emulation. A person of good report.

Now, come to think of it: are you a SARAKI?

BUHARI

According to a website: wikiname.net, the Numerology information on the name Buhari is as follows:

Name Number: 5. Meaning: Motion, Change, Freedom, Diversity, Liberty, Choice, Interest, Search, Risk, Danger, Fear.

I refer you to this webpage:

http://www.wikiname.net/boy/Buhari

Now moving away from Numerology, some have opined that the name Buhari/Bukhari is an Arabic adjective referring to anybody born in Bukhara, a city in Uzbekistan famous for its learned men during the Abbassid Caliphate (third of the Islamic caliphates to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad) and that  the popularity of the name is due to the Persian scholar, Muhammad al-Bukhari.

I checked on this scholar and got to learn that Muhammad al-Bukhari was born after the Jumu'ah prayer on Friday, 19 July 810 in the city of Bukhara in present-day Uzbekistan. He was the author of the al-Jami' as-Sahih, a collection of 7,275 tested traditions [collection of hadiths]. His book is highly regarded among Sunni Muslims, and considered the most authentic collection of hadith. (Wikipedia)

Kindly join me in sending up prayerful thoughts for the health and well-being of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari and for peace in our country, Nigeria.

IF YOU HAD SEEN HIM FACE TO FACE, WOULD YOU HAVE BELIEVED IN HIM?

You came across a man 2000 years ago, preaching REPENTANCE and that we should love the Almighty and our neighbours.

Although he spoke with authority, physically, he was as other men.

He sleeps, wakes, and dresses as usual.

When he walked long hours he gets tired. He sweats, gets hungry and thirsty too.

Though not weak, he was often overcome with sadness especially when even his closest followers are unable to follow his explanations.

Yes, a lot of miracles came when he appeared on the scene, but he also shook all the former revered customs to their foundations and established his own commandments. He has friends amongst the people that are considered traitors of his brethren.

All of these earned him the label of: blasphemer, glutton, drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

He too had very harsh words for the religious leaders of the day.

There was yet to be a story of a physical resurrection of his body after three days...Instead you witnessed how his enemies were able to use all the power they could muster to execute him on trumped up charges. This brought to an abrupt end his work after only three years. Heart-rending.

While one of his own closest followers betrayed him to his enemies, a leading associate denied him publicly on the very night of his arrest. One of these two later committed suicide and the other wept bitterly at his own weakness.

The one betrayed eventually suffered death the kind reserved for the worst criminals. At this point, he did not bring about any miracle to save himself.

He never once mentioned the virgin birth!

And…there were no Books of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John as reference materials.

Would you have believed him?

Hematidrosis

“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). His disciples must have been horrified at this unusual happening in the Garden of Gethsemane! Perhaps what they were witnessing is Hematidrosis (sweating blood) a verified condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood. This occurs under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress an example being a premonition of death.

If you still think that the crucifixion was all a script from above, please think twice. It caused Jesus great agony! We can imagine that Christ prior to his arrest was in deepest agony at the ingratitude and wickedness of mankind who shunned His Word of salvation but dared to plot and eventually carry out the public and disgraceful execution of the Holy Son of the Most High! Oh how the Personification of the Love of God suffered in that garden...a deep, sharp but short inner struggle.

Eventually, He did not avoid the impending pain, mockery and death, but faced them all for the sake of the Truth He brought. It is only this Truth (and living by it) that can save you and me and not the act of the wicked crucifixion which stands entirely on its own.

Let us always remember this.

THE BANDAGE FALLS!

It would appear that mankind is walking the face of the earth blindfolded! This accounts for the all-encompassing confusion of the present day. Now, two sets of people maybe three offer to help.

First the Politicians: they promise to lead and serve the people but often they serve only themselves.

Second the Religious leaders: they appear as pointers to the right path but most often lead the masses astray! Such offer stones for bread.

Third – Scientists! They sound so logical, but alas their scope is limited to the material only. They see no further! They cannot even grasp that the same laws they have observed in nature also applies to our thoughts, words and deeds. What do they know of eternal life?

I have good news!

The bandage falls! It falls for those who earnestly seek for the Truth, for the Truth shall set them free! They will become spiritual, they will come to know and understand the Laws and Commandments of the Lord God which opens their eyes and frees them from the present day confusion and the shackles of the false prophets mentioned above. They will go their way with calm confidence in this wonderful creation of their God. The bandage falls yes, but only for those who long for help from the Light, and not for the scoffers and the self-righteous! Not for those who put their trust solely in politics, religion or science!