Category: A Better Life

When I got a call yesterday from a beloved disciple in South Sudan, saying he and another had traveled to Juba from our base in Yei to sell sweet potatoes, despite the war, I was thrilled. The news was a confirmation and an answer to prayer.

2 Samuel 23:20 reads “There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it.”

Men don’t chase lions, even if the lion is sick and half dead. Benaiah did. What was he thinking? What guts? How did he do it? He must have seen what many couldn’t- divine opportunity.

I’m wondering, “What is this conflict in parts of South Sudan gifting us that we are failing to notice? What is the weakness of this challenge that gives subtle advantage to the gospel?”

I may have to come face-to-face with this lion to get the answers.

It may seem foolish now, to start parking and prepping to head into a place where the sounds of war and fear stir the atmosphere as the dwellers troop out into safer havens.

Safety first, is more than an idea in our day. It’s a way of life that governs so such, from manufacturing to mundane services. But whose counsels should take preeminence in matters of eternal consequence? Safety or the Holy Spirit?

Yeah, someone may say, “He wants to be a hero…” And what’s wrong with that? Wasn’t that what David’s brothers said to him before he returned with Goliath’s head? He too, had a story with a lion and a bear.

The conflict may present itself in the form of a lion and chase many out of location; but what if one or a few among the many, turn to chase the lion, with an aim to kill it?

Why should they risk so much?

Can the gospel be effectively preached risk free? How?

We need to sense, seek, see and seize divine opportunities these global crisis present to us to bring the gospel to some, who may not hear it but for their predicament.

We have to find ways to make Jesus known, loved and followed by some of those displaced, distressed, disillusioned or at the threshold of destruction. We need to go to where they are and engage the lion.

Jesus holds all things together and must be maintained at the center of everything.

We can do more with peace, but we can make history in the midst of crisis, as we follow the Holy Spirit and dare to chase the lion for Christ’s sake.

In South Sudan, it’s clear that many wounds from past wars have not healed though we sometimes act as if we were never hurt.

As we reflect on possible “good” solutions, our confessions and body language may seem to portray a buoyant faith, but fear scoffs at our unstable heart. 

It seems the prophecies of doom are coming true. But divine finality belongs to God and we are hopeful, knowing that the Most High cannot be taken by surprise. He knows this will happen but maybe He’s hoping we can see with His eyes and act with His heart.

Only crazy people chase a lion on a snowy day into a pit. All the greats in Scripture had their moments of insanity, and they took it. Could this be my time or yours?

Someone out there may be wishing to engage in a more practical way, crisis situations that are not remotely related to issues in South Sudan, Central Africa Republic or Syria. You are not alone. Seek the support and cooperation of others like you. We can do more together.

However, if others are fleeing from the lion and you are provoked enough to chase the beast, do. God will not despise your faith. You may be the answer to many prayers.

In his book, In A Pit With A Lion, Mark Batterson said, “Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase. You will look back longingly on risks not taken, opportunities not seized, and dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path.”

 This may be the best counsel you’ll receive this year.

A poison, when ingested, destroys your system. It doesn’t really matter how it enters. The dose administered determines the outcome and death is the ultimate goal.

To administer it successfully, you need an ignorant target, perfect timing, and a good measure of hate.

Taste buds learn to adjust to whatever is frequently served and so do our hearts invline to whats often passed or pressed into it. The tragedy is exacerbated if the waiter or waitress is someone you love or respect.

If you really want to poison someone successfully, serve them gossip.

Gossip is of the deadliest of poisons and the cure is neither easy nor cheap.

Like the sin of pride, gossip operates in stealth mode and a little is more than enough. Like sugar, addiction easily occurs.

It kills both the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the smart and the stupid, the good and the bad. But the damage it does to the Christian’s heart and the Body of Christ is as terrible as death itself.

Not many things we hear are sweeter than hot, juicy gossip. Unlike music, you don’t need to learn the lines or remember the rhythm to thoroughly enjoy it.

The potency and spread of gossip depends largely on the person at the center of it. Call him/her, the object. The higher up the public or family ladder the object is, the better.

Once served, it immediately deposits a weight on the heart. To deal with the load exerted, you must relieve it by sharing it with someone you trust or deliberately purge it from your system. The latter could take time.

You cannot gossip with someone you don’t trust, about someone you know. It may seem gossip is a good trust-builder, but many we choose to gossip with often don’t keep our trust. Like us, they spread it and often spice it up.

For some, gossip is ingrained in their culture. For others, it’s a lifestyle. Sadly in all, it’s their way of dealing with their own broken lives. Even when a guilty conscience spotlights their despicable conduct, many choose to only mollify their conscience with a quick prayer.

The fun derived from gossip delights the sick soul in three ways. First, the thrill of seeing the hearer awestruck and totally mesmerized; then, the contentment of feeling morally superior in comparison with their victim. Lastly, the burden is eased, albeit, a little.

Secrets make gossip a powerful tool for manipulation in every community. The people you gossip with become part of an exclusive clique, a small group where everyone is a chief facilitator.

The use of gossip that has befallen the Body of Christ is an immense tragedy. Innocent souls are poisoned daily with accusations against others, that often cannot be proven. We lack the ability to simply bury the weaknesses of our brethren because we have no love in our hearts to beget humility.

Our loved ones can serve us gossip innocently, but how we deal with it reveals our maturity. People that truly love us will not gossip about us. Rather, they’ll confront us with what they heard, with an “it-can’t-be-true“ disposition.

Do you seek to justify your weakness by dissecting the lives of others? Or do you care enough to seek the truth and pray silently for God’s mercy when the worst is confirmed? The broken pieces of our brethren should not be found between our teeth.

“When a leader listens to malicious gossip, all the workers get infected with evil.” (Proverbs 29:12)

How do you deal with a tale-bearer when s(he) is your leader, an elder or someone you respect?

How does culture help or hinder our quest for freedom from gossip?

Are you suffering from the wounds of gossip? David was “unfazed by rumor and gossip.” He is described as “trusting in GOD with a ready heart, spirit firm, unperturbed, ever blessed, relaxed among enemies… Lavishing gifts on the poor– A generosity that goes on, and on, and on. An honored life! A beautiful life!” (Ps 112:7-9) The Message

Examine the toxic level of things you’ve heard about people around you and if you are tempted to stop loving and esteeming them better than yourself (Phil 2:3), purge yourself quickly. 

Don’t assume you are immune. Remember, “The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person’s innermost being.” (Proverbs 18:8) God’s Word Translation

Lord Jesus, deliver me from gossip and those that love it.

When I asked my mentor and coach, Seth Barnes to recommend some “must-read” books to me a few weeks ago, Peter Scazzero‘s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality was first on the list.

He’d seen and heard some of my struggles and my request presented him an opportunity to introduce this great book, to help drive home a few points and stabilize my cruise. I’m most grateful.

I must confess that I struggled to finish this book. I can’t count how many times I abandoned it, muting “oh my goodness” under my breath. It pressed me into hidden matters of the heart that need immediate attention. Some of the issues will take a while to unpack.

As we head into the year 2013, which I believe is loaded with life-changing prospects for good, I highly recommend this book to every Christian. Young or old, broken or well-made, single or married, divorced or wishing it, rich or poor, active in ministry, on some job or just there– please get this 227 paged book and give yourself a chance to grow in the right places this year.

Laced with many personal, practical examples and guidelines, this book offers something truly unique. It also has a DVD and Workbook to help discuss and digest the details.

Here are a few extracts:

“Christian spirituality, without an integration of emotional health, can be deadly-to yourself, your relationship with God, and the people around you… Because people are having real, and helpful spiritual experiences in certain areas of their lives- such as worship, prayer, Bible studies, and fellowship- they mistakenly believe they are doing fine, even if their relational life and interior world is not in order. This apparent “progress” then provides the reason for not doing the hard work of maturing.”

Peter Scazzero explains that “the great temptations towards the false self” traps the soul with three major prongs. First is the- I am what I do (Performance); then, I am what I have (Possession) and third, I am what others think (Popularity).

“…it is essential for us to clearly identify the primary symptoms of emotionally unhealthy spirituality that continue to wreak havoc on our personal lives and our churches. The following are the top ten symptoms indicating if someone is suffering from a bad case of emotionally unhealthy spirituality.”

1.                   Using God to run from God

2.                   Ignoring the emotions of anger, sadness, and fear

3.                   Dying to the wrong things

4.                   Denying the past’s impact on the present

5.                   Dividing our lives into “secular” and “sacred” compartments

6.                   Doing for God instead of being with God

7.                   Spiritualizing away conflict

8.                   Covering over brokenness, weakness, and failure

9.                   Living without limits

10.               Judging other people’s spiritual journey       

He graciously explained these symptoms. 

We are called to follow Christ and make Him loved and worshiped by the way we relate to the world around us. Some of us are doing poorly at this and know it. But some others, though weak too, are totally oblivious of what must change and why. Like that blind man in Mark 8:22-25, they see men like trees, walking; sadly, they are content. After all, it’s better than the former state of darkness.

Adults as Emotional Infants

o   Look for others to take care of them

o   Are driven by need for instant gratification

o   Use others as objects to meet their needs

Adults as Emotional Children

o   Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want

o   Interpret disagreement as personal offenses and are easily hurt

o   Complain, withdraw, manipulate, take revenge, become sarcastic when they don’t get their way

o   Have great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way

Adults as Emotional Adolescents

o   Tend to often be defensive

o   Keep score of what they give so they can ask for something later in return

o   Deal with conflict poorly, often blaming, appeasing, going to a third party, pouting, or ignoring the issue entirely

o   Have great difficulty truly listening to another person’s pain, disappointments, or needs

o   Are critical and judgmental, yet threatened and alarmed themselves by criticism

Growing into emotionally mature adults doesn’t happen naturally. It takes hard work. If these (select) categories above as highlighted in the book connect with you in a personal way, that’s okay. Question is, what should you do to engage for change? 

There’s hope for all that see the cracks and decide to deliberately press into the loving arms of a Father who’s saying, “Come into my presence boldly, I have a Man like you in here already.” Heb 10:19-22 (My summary) This book can help.

Emotionally Mature Adult

o   Able to ask for what they need, want, and prefer  -clearly, directly, honestly, respectfully

o   Recognize, manage and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings

o   Can, when under stress state their own beliefs and values without becoming adversarial

o   Respect others without having to change them and give people room to make mistakes

o   Accurately access their own limits, strengths, and weaknesses and are able to freely discuss them with others

o   Are deeply in tune with their own emotional world (brokenness) and thus are able to enter into the feelings, needs, and concerns of others without losing themselves

o   Have the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspectives of others (even when there are clearly wrong)

If this Emotionally Mature Adult is not the goal of Christian discipleship, I don’t know what is. 

Let’s strive for this, beginning with ourselves, in 2013 and beyond.

This is not a call to another New Year Resolution. This is a call to live free and die happy.

Happy Year New my friend!!

In September 2003, God took me out of Lagos Nigeria to
Atlanta in USA and said to me, “I brought you here to get your attention.” Nine years on, He still has me, but not pinned down where we started.

We’ve moved on to matters of eternal consequence that greatly
challenge my total being.

My life took a wild
turn from that day and I was labeled crazy
by some that felt I was making a great mistake, abandoning my career in Computer Science, with huge prospects in a place like America
for cross-cultural missions in war-torn Sudan.

I can’t blame them. Following Jesus never made sense. You
have to be crazy enough to follow Jesus to the end.

The first disciples of Jesus were totally insane. Though
some recovered from their insanity when He said, “For
My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” John
6:53-66 We read there that many of the disciples left
Him and went away. For them, He took it too far.

Those that remained had reached the point of
no-return.

Else, how do you explain their continued devotion when
they heard Jesus say, “Indeed, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom
of God.” Bewildered, they promptly asked; “Who, then can be
saved?” Mark
10:25-28

I wonder if Peter heard Jesus’ response to their
anxiety before he lamented, “Lo, we have left all and have
followed You.” If I were there that day, I say to Peter, “You must be crazy.”

Peter’s fear
and concern are legitimate. Most of us don’t start-out crazy. Self preservation comes with humanness, but we catch the crazy virus as we take baby steps along the narrow path with Jesus. The
fathers of our faith nursed their individual fears as they followed in
obedience.

Every disciple is graciously
guided towards the narrow way where total abandonment is inevitable. It can be
a very frightful trip on account of the rejection, misunderstandings, uncertainties
and the share mystery choosing it portends.

Yet, therein is the
fullness of our existence pegged by the hands of a loving Father, who’s the All Mighty God.

“Journeys
open up our spirit to the possibility of a reality it hasn’t yet rasped. Away
from the familiar, our hearts become a place where God can work, a place where
only faith will sustain us. Even though our physical travels may not last a
year, the lessons we learn will continue to rend our hearts for years to come.
The journey is more than an escape from the things that have come to define us
in life – it’s a chance to break free from the shackles of an ordinary
existence.” – From Kingdom Journeys – Rediscovering The Lost
Spiritual Discipline by Seth Barnes

Once again, I hear
Jesus saying, “With men it is impossible, but not
with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Our life as we know it
and have it must be lived on God’s terms. The “with God” angle is the faith dimension, the only acceptable
way to relate with an All-Sufficient God.

If you finally got the
chance today to take a huge step, in faith, on account of God’s nudge in your
heart, what will it be?

It’s only in this “with God” arena that we begin
to dream and dare to live the impossible from season to season. The invitation
to craziness is served daily and the fruit are as sure as the promises
of God.

Who will be the primary
beneficiaries of your act of crazy obedience?

I dare you to be crazy, Mubarak was crazy.

After watching the movie Real Steel with my family few
weeks ago, I wondered at what a 90minutes movie of my life’s journey so far, would
look like. Which events of my existence must make the cut within the 90mins
film?

The more I thought of this, the more it dawned on me
that the key elements of my life’s trip had been in the ever so uncomfortable and
solitary arenas where God and I made a clear and unforgettable connection.

For me, it’s been a great blend lonely moments of pain
and pleasure, uncertainty, fear and even shame. I love thrillers and action movies but I don’t think mine would make a
blockbuster. My assessment here may be wrong but I’m comfortable with my progress.

The world’s idea of a hero is badly skewed, relative
to the Kingdom of Christ. “So Jesus spoke to them:
“You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but
God knows what’s behind the appearance. What society sees and calls monumental,
God sees through and calls monstrous.” (Luke 16:15)

The
legacy of our lives will be found in the mundane more than the seemingly
miraculous or grandiose. God doesn’t miss anything and acts of obedience done in
secret, which are the highest level of worship, grab His attention.

As
I look at the lives of men and women whom God took time to tell their story in
the scriptures, I’m awed by this reality. Those through whom God displayed His
glory and told His story had significant private sessions with Him. Their
resolve to obey Him set them against the established systems of their day. They
were the bad guys.

In
fact, it would seem that He carefully led them towards Himself in some rather
strange ways, but always left another option beside Himself. They could walk
away and be the world’s good guys.

Take
a random pick of the greats in the scriptures and you’d trace the unique moment
of God’s presence to their private and unpopular hours.

What
events would make the cut in the 90mins movie of your life, directed and
produced by you?

What
are the most precious memories of your encounter with the Almighty God, which
you’d want the world to learn from?

Could
it be your birth or childhood? The birth of Jesus though in a smelly manger made
the headlines all the way to the Far East and many babies lost their lives because
of Him. These made the cut for Him.

Could
it be your education or career or ministry? Jesus didn’t go to school but His
wisdom was unparalleled in all history; such that at age 12, He dazed the
lawyers of His day. He started the most successful ministry ever, with ignorant
fishermen from one tribe and surrendered it
to them in the end, even when it seemed they didn’t understand its purpose.
He said it pleased His Father like that. (Matthew 11:25)

Could
it be your wealth or spouse or children? A man like Jacob lost all three,
wealth, spouse and children (Reuben and briefly Joseph) in his life time and
yet, the most significant event about him was that all night lonely encounter
with the angel that changed his destiny forever.

40
years a fugitive, Moses heard God at the burning bush and gave another 40years
to all he heard and when he died, God Himself 
buried him (Deut 34:5-6). David, fleeing from King Saul wrote many
Psalms hiding in several caves; Paul’s time in prison was Abba’s design to
produce timeless Epistles. Noah, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Hannah, Ruth… The list
is long.

The
hidden truths and glories of the Living God are found in secret and lowly
places not in the limelight. When you feel rejected, defamed and misunderstood for
Christ’s sake, you are rightly located for a great story, one more suited for
heaven’s audience.

 What could we learn from the 90mins movie of
your life, if ever there was one?

My journey back home from Yei has began. As usual, I’m
reflecting on lessons learned and they are several. But it seems one looms
above the rest.

My time at The Furnace (our discipleship and mentoring group)
and other informal meetings with several young disciples highlighted the one issue most of them were
wrestling with– Trust.

There’s an emerging generation of young disciples whose
questions about God and life seem to reveal the appalling state of family structures
and parenting in general.

They are disillusioned by a system they’ve been told to
trust by the elders, their leaders, teachers
and their parents. The wounds from this
failed or failing system are deep because people they trusted were the main
culprits.

So what we have is a growing vicious cycle. They’ll give
what they got from those on top; failed promises, shallow love, poor
commitment; resulting in dashed hopes and expectations. The answer to this
heart question, “Can I trust him/her?” is often NO!

I asked them in one session we had, “If I post a notice
on my door saying, “Please Come In, Don’t Knock” how will you respond
when you visit me and see it?”

I was surprised when a sizable number said they’ll still
knock when they visit. “Why?”

One said, “I’ll think it’s a trap” Another said,
“I’ll think it’s not proper.” One asked, “So what if you are
changing clothes when I enter?” Another asked, “What if you don’t
want to be disturbed at the time?

These questions and views seem legitimate but they failed to
see how their trust in me was challenged with it.

Don’t we treat God the same way?

God lavishes love on us and we wonder, “Is this a
trap?”

He makes great promises to us and we ask, “Can I trust
Him to do it?”

He says, “I paid for your sickness on the cross; you are healed.”
But you think this sickness is from
God. “He’s punishing me for my sins.”

He says your sins are forgiven, but we are looking for a sign
or a feeling to confirm that.

He says “My strength is perfected in your
weakness.” But we think being weak in public is too risky, so we prefer a
show of strength or wealth or wisdom.

Despite several notable spiritual encounters with God, like
Jacob, who trusted no one, not even God but himself; we still struggle to hold
God at His word because we feel His response time is always too slow or He’s difficult
to please or we feel so unworthy of His blessings or we think we must lie and
cheat to get this or that.

But building our character is God’s main goal, not our
comfort.

“Pure gold
put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this
suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your
faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.”
(1Peter 1:7)

People we love and admire may disappoint us, but not God.

How stable is your trust in God this season? Can you see His hand working to make you a worthy Bride for His Son?

As I think of how best to disciple the young people around me, the word– adventure and all it implies is pressing me towards a definite conclusion.

I looked up adventure in the dictionary and saw the following thesaurus: escapade, exploit, quest, venture, exploration, voyage, undertaking , journey. There’s a thrill I feel in these words, a sense of fun that’s filled with wonder and even danger.

Sweat, tears, laughter, fear, anger, ecstasy, pain all in various measures, and marinating in a big pot, waiting to be cooked and served with joy as we engage the life we are made for.

There’s something about the outdoors that connects quickly to our nature as humans. The Lord Jesus spent much time with His disciples outdoors; using all manner of outdoor activities to communicate His timeless lessons.

What would it be like to leave home for a season and spend time in a different culture, learning a new language, tasting new meals (fortifying one’s digestive capacity thereby), meeting new people, listening to them reason and discuss life issues and of course, make disciples of Christ among them?

As I plan for my return to South Sudan in a few weeks, the outdoors are on my mind. If you’ve experienced this thrill, you’ll agree it’s not only intoxicating but also profitable. You, therefore, owe the same to the young people around you. Seth Barnes said, “To saddle them [young people] with a career before they’ve experienced God’s glory in other cultures is often to have sinned against them.

I imagine that if Jesus were calling out His disciples today, he’d spend more than just a few hours a week with them helping them discover what it means to walk out their faith in a complicated and ruthless world. I’m certain He’d press them to the point where they’ll risk all for His sake.

When Jesus sent out His disciples in Matthew 10, He set before them a life of adventure, pure and simple. He said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves… On my account, you will be brought before governors and Kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles… when they arrest you… when you are persecuted in one place, flee to another… don’t be afraid…”

He expected their first short-term mission experience to be packed with action, suspense, divine provision, surprises etc. They returned with amazing testimonies.

Some antonyms for adventure are avoidance, inaction, inactivity, passiveness, and stillness.

I hope these don’t define you in relation to God’s global cause on earth. Sooner or later, we’ll all discover that nothing matters more than what God is consumed within this world.

May you be that disciple for whom Christ’s glory and fame in all Nations has become the integrating and overriding priority, regardless of your profession and possessions. That’s what you are made for.

 

Masquerades are an enigma in most African cultures. They exercise the highest level of liberty in communities where they are celebrated and unmasking one is an abomination, a taboo; because it’s believed that inside the mask or costume is an it, a deity of sorts, a spirit.

But when God unmasks a Masquerade (a man), by exposing his secret sin publicly, it is radical chastening in its purest form. It is God’s way of salvaging a man that slowly strayed into the scary world of the “untouchables”.

Masquerades are good examples of hypocrites; people who present a false image of themselves. I refer you to this very interesting piece authored by Charles Finn – the Mask, blogged by Seth Barnes.

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m praying for you…” yet they’ve never said a word of prayer on account of your welfare? The projected image of spirituality may be used as a disguise just to win trust, commendations, respect…

It is hypocrisy when we show partiality in our dealings with people based on assumed or apparent needs or affluence we see or sense in them. James 2:2-4

It’s hypocrisy to say “Yes” when we mean “No” or vice versa. We are hypocritical when we are selective of which God’s laws to obey, to preach and teach; while deliberately leaving out those that tend to challenge false perspectives we hold. Luke 6:46

In essence, hypocrisy promotes substandard forms of Christianity and Jesus says, “They worship me in vain…” Mark 7:7-8

Being fake and unreal is easily a lifestyle. But it’s very difficult and expensive to manage. The man in the Masquerade suffers greatly, sweating endlessly and/or carrying a heavy load all in disguise. And those following them make sure their human parts are not exposed in the cause of rigorous gyrations. No matter how good each day’s performance is; the night comes, when the masked creature must unmask and once again, be human.

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus commanded people around him (I suppose his close friends and family) to lose him from his grave clothes. The men that did the job would have seen Lazarus’ nakedness, but it wouldn’t have mattered that day.

How do you tell a masquerade, “Your costume is so badly torn, you are exposed”, without falling victim of its wrath? Or should we ignore the tear and watch the miserable creature ridicule itself and the tradition of our fathers? Prov 27:5

It can be difficult dealing with a hypocrite because he’ll always be the first to shout an “Amen!” to a warning meant for his correction; the first to say, “That was a great message…” and never repent.

There must be a willingness to repent followed immediately by obedience in turning away, unmasking and being you. There’s no crime in being a mess. But don’t remain a mess when you know there’s a better offer.

May you be graced with people who will aptly and willingly help you unmask before the inevitable night season, when cruel circumstances of life rip your disguise in public.

May people who’ll help with untying your grave clothes when you are raised again, be disciples who understand and value the privilege of handling your “nakedness”.

“For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Job 27:8

As we plan to host some 600 or more students for six days beginning next
week Monday here in Yei, I’m waking up to the essence of my faith. 

Though the intensity of our prayers and preparation for this meeting continues to grow by the day, there’s still an uneasiness I feel, an anxiety I thought I should have overcome; having organized several conferences in the past and a largely successful camp last year.

Several times, I’ve wondered and people have asked, “What’s your aim with this?”

“Why invite all these students?”

“Don’t you see that many of them can’t even read properly and that will pose a big problem with understanding?”

“Will you have enough facilitators to handle the anticipated huge crowd?”

“Where will you get the money for this and that?”

“Can’t you plan something small and simple, with a few leaders, spend less money and time, and have little or no troubles to contend with?

If faith should always make sense, I’d probably answer these questions differently each time.

The deep ends of any river could be an exciting place to swim or fish, but they are often dangerous and sometimes lonely.
Heading that direction intentionally, especially when it’s not placid could seem foolish. However, that’s where faith for the impossible thrives.

Striving towards the deeper ends in faith is always expensive. It’s also a complicated place because of the assortment of confusions occasioned by the unimaginable challenges and the manner with which the problems suddenly fizzle out; forcing us to wonder again and again, “What just happened there?” (Psalm 107:23-30)

Abba smiles when our countenance glows in anticipation of His intervention at the deep ends of life. He’s thrilled by the shifts on the scale of our faith indicator. The rise and fall thereof are lovely to Him. But not the absence of it altogether.

The process of our spiritual formation which God jealously oversees involves
moments of fear, tears, doubt and uncertainty. You are either heading towards this direction, away from it or you are in the zone already. If God will be honored on account of your years on earth, you must tread this path of faith on His terms.

No two storms are the same. But they always have the same effect of either wrecking us or rousing us to the realities of our present spiritual condition.

Once again at this conference, there’s much uncertainty. But we’ll surely create a platform for God to be glorified; a
place to teach, inspire, instruct, correct and encourage and pray for those the
Lord will bring our way and open their hearts to receive His word. Hopefully, a
few would catch this flame and run with it to places we may never go.

The gift of faith is offered to all. I’m learning to use and grow my allocation. I hope you are too.

Have you ever listened to someone speak so confidently
or humorously or even seriously, telling what you know to be a lie? Most of us
have, right? Have you done same sometime ago or even recently? Someone has and
another somewhere near you will yet dare before you finish reading this.

Enjoy this illustration first.

One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a
tree above a river, his axe fell into the river. When he began crying, God
appeared and asked him, “Why are you crying?” The woodcutter told Him
that he had dropped his axe into water. God went down into the water and
reappeared with a golden axe. “Is this your axe?”, God asked. The
woodcutter said “No”. God again went down and came up with a silver
axe. “Is this your axe?”, God asked. The wood cutter said
“No”. God went down again and came up with an iron axe. “Is this
your axe?”, God asked. The wood cutter said “Yes”. God was
pleased with the man’s honesty and gave him all the three axes. The woodcutter
went home happily.

One day while he was walking with his wife along the river, his wife fell into
the river. When he began crying, God appeared and asked him, “Why are you
crying?” “My wife has fallen into water.” God went down into the
water and came up with Jennifer Lopez. “Is this your wife?”, God
asked. “Yes!!!”, he said. God was furious, “YOOOOOU LIAAAAAR!!!
Now I am going to curse you…” The woodcutter quickly said, “Forgive
me My Lord for there is a misunderstanding. If I say “No” to Jennifer
Lopez, you will come up with Catherine Zeta Jones or Madonna. If I also say
“No” to her, you will finally come up with my wife and I will say
“Yes”. Then you will give all the three to me. My life is already very complicated as it is. So that’s why I had to say
“Yes”…

The above is a joke as you well know. But the next is
not. I came away with some important lessons in this my encounter with the police.

Every driver hates a traffic jam. In Lagos, road users
do incredible things on the highway to evade the regular traffic madness.

It was one of those insane days as traffic was
approaching standstill point very quickly and to avoid spending my entire day
behind a steering wheel, I made an illegal left turn into a One Way lane to cut
off the traffic. (This was those days when offenders like me would first be taken to a Psychiatric hospital for checkup before a heavy fine is administered to correct the insanity.)

Immediately, five police men sprang out from hiding
like lions and blocked me. One got into the front seat but before he could say
a word, I smiled, put my hand on his lap and said to him, “Dog no dey chop dog…”
meaning Dogs don’t eat dogs.

The message was clear. He understood it. “You be dog,
you be dog!!??” (Are you a dog) He asked, meaning it literally and looking very
disappointed. As he quietly exited the car, one of his colleagues asked him,
“Who e be?” (That’s, who was I?) “Na
officer” (An Officer) replied the one that checked me out. They all backed down
and I drove away.

What did I do there? I associated myself with those
cops by using their code and got away with it. My reaction to their poise that
day could have won an Oscar. It felt good, and that was the problem.

The feeling should have been that of remorse leading
to repentance because I lied. But no; I felt I’d got me an antidote to police
harassment and couldn’t wait to use it again and again and again… setting
myself up for destruction.

Most people stop or should I say pause when they get
caught. Others stop if God encounters them profoundly. If you wait until you
are caught, your remorse may confuse you because you may wonder if you are
remorseful for breaking God’s law and putting Jesus to shame publicly or just
regretting being caught. But why wait to find out how awkward this feels like, when you could just repent now?

Why did I take that wrong turn? Fear! I
feared that my day was about to end in a traffic mess and that’s not how I
planned it. I must be smart and fix this else, I’ll be a failure.

Then I was caught and I lied. Why did I lie? Fear! I
was afraid of the consequence of my crime.

But my problem
was more than these fears. The fears were just symptoms. The real malady was unbelief,
which is a heart condition. The fear of punishment, of rejection, failure and
shame all stem from a heart charged with doubt.

My lie revealed a lack of trust in God. I couldn’t
believe that He was still in control of that bad traffic situation and can
bring out some good from the experience.

Each lie is traceable to a fear which resides in a
heart that’s struggling to have faith in God.

The truth about lies is that we never tell them in error. Examine yourself. When was the
last time you lied? Why did you lie? Did you repent or did you savor the taste
of a false victory and wished for another opportunity?

Seth Barnes said something about Four kinds of
lairs. I enjoyed the comments more than the blog itself.