Category: Reflections

***I’d published this piece awhile ago and feel led of God to release it again, convinced that someone somewhere needs it, just like I do.***

In the past few weeks, I’ve met several precious souls who, like me, are in that seemingly dreadful state where we’ve been cornered by Abba’s gentle command to wait. Their complaints, fears, and anxiety spoke to me a lot.

Waiting often unnerves the emotions and impatience can tempt us to throw our obedience to the wind and press us to just do something.

Surrendering to God can sometimes bestow a feeling of helplessness that traumatizes the soul. This traumatic feeling could be a sign that something is wrong within us.

God always longs to pry our hearts from childishness and our hands from directing that immaturity into potentially injurious places or people. Spiritual tantrums which are common in moments like these are witness to the presence of fear.

Independence is power. But power, without learning lessons in control, is a good recipe for confusion and utter destruction. Much like wealth without the cross of Christ.

A friend asked, “Uche, God gave me a brain useful for analyzing issues. Waiting like this seems utterly unreasonable and ludicrous. Don’t you think we are over-spiritualizing this thing?”

If you’ve been here, you’ll agree it can be tough letting patience screw us towards perfection. James 1:4

Maybe that’s why God had to intentionally put Adam into a deep sleep (Gen 2:21) before He could produce the wonder he named Eve. 

It can be very frustrating, waiting without knowing why or what next. Something in us craves for explanations because we want control. We want to analyze the issues ourselves and judge the choices others are making that affect us.

Faith is not logical, but thankfully, the common sense of our faith suggests we are giving our preference to a God whose ways are beyond our imagination. He knew the end before He began the beginning.

Lazarus had to die, and Jesus said, “I’m glad for your sakes that I wasn’t there…” John 11:15 Really?? He may seem to be missing around you now, but He’s NEVER absent.

As his two sisters, friends, and neighbors waited for Jesus, they watched him suffer in silence and eventually die. One can only imagine their excruciating pain and confusion. Jesus knew all that and still waited for His friend to pass away. But how did that story end? Jesus said to Mary, “…If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” John 11:40

God’s relentless work to bring us and keep us at that place of rest and waiting, must challenge our faith and press us into earnest longing for His glory more than our comfort. The big question is, do we implicitly trust His fatherly love and leadership?

“They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either.” Acts 16:6-7 [The Message]

This team of powerful missionaries was stopped twice by the Holy Spirit on their way to doing great works for God. Two different directions were blocked on a single trip. For those of us who want to push through with our own agenda, this is an instructive story, isn’t it?

They were sold out to the task given, but they needed divine directions for maximum fruitfulness. Why did God stop them? He doesn’t owe them an explanation.

He’s the LORD of the Harvest. If we keep missing that, we’ll struggle endlessly to hear Him or relinquish full control to Him, even in matters in which we consider ourselves experts or in situations where we are certain of the outcome.

When was the last time God stopped you from saying or doing what you believed was right?

When last did He impede you from pursuing an opportunity you felt sure was ready to be taken?

His work in guiding and guarding (and even gagging) us serves to build our trust, love, patience, self-control, and meekness. This will ultimately strengthen our relationship with Him and others.

“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all…” Proverbs 3:5-7 [The Message]

Let our surrendering be joyful and may it grant God that platform He seeks, to reveal His matchless wisdom and glory.

We all make bad calls now and again. Poor judgments are silent reminders of our humanness. Unfortunately, some honest mistakes have claimed innocent lives, destroyed age-long relationships and even destinies.

Sometimes it’s the quest to do or be someone of significance that will create the opportunity for a jumbo size goof in public or in private.

At our last Students’ Marathon, we had our share of the bitter lesson of human error.

The teachers collating the results from the racers were having difficulty, so more hands joined them to assist and get the job done speedily.

Suddenly, our priority, though unspoken, shifted from getting the correct results to ending the event quickly. The urgent overthrow the important and the stage was set for chaos.

Once we got what we believed to be the result and the winning school was announced. Confusion stepped onto the podium.

A teacher from the school that was announced to have taken the 2nd place protested and demanded a recount. He vehemently insisted and we obliged. With shouts of No! No! No! from the crowd, it couldn’t be messier. But calm soon returned.

An independent observer came over to conduct the recount and sort out the messy arithmetic.

While this was going on, the school that was announced winner located at one corner of the stage, had the Trophy in hand and dance steps on their feet.

I was so sure this teacher demanding a recount was wrong. In fact, at some point I prayed he would be wrong. The embarrassment of being wrong should be his not ours, as the organizers.

Thanks to God, he was right.

An error had been made. 4 points made the difference between the two schools and we had to retrieve the Trophy from the school wrongly awarded and give to the rightful winners.

I was happy and sad at the same time. Sad that we sacrificed the important for the urgent and created unnecessary confusion but happy that the actual winners were the ones celebrating.

With every human error, we stand at the threshold of discovery. We may discover many whys and hows and hopefully, who and where we are in God and in the hearts of those with whom we have to deal.

Our interpretations of justice may be skewed based on our perceptions, ethics and other parameters. These are not the truth in themselves but may hold fragments of the truth. As brilliant as we think we are, we have blind spots.

The blessedness of human error should point us to the One who has never said, “I am sorry” to anyone. His plan is to make us perfect. No agenda can outclass that! He’s still working.

I apologized profusely to the audience and the school wrongly awarded the Trophy in particular. I subsequently asked the Sport Department of the County to write a letter of apology to this school. It was as painful for us to apologize and write them as it was for them to accept. They felt extremely undone and embarrassed and rightly so.

Problem is, if an apology or even a jail term for a crime committed does not suffice, something ominous is behind the curtain and if not arrested, a more catastrophic event looms.

Some people will rather you don’t question them, cross them or have reasons to say, “I’m sorry”. Some others are just too scared to be wrong. They handle offense or rebuke poorly and thus have fragile relationships.

As perfect as God is, He accepts apologies from mere mortals like us and doesn’t withdraw His gifts, callings and privileges given prior to our goofs. (Romans 11:29) If only we can relate to others like that.

Are you still beating yourself up on account of a recent mistake? The consequences may not vanish as you may wish but the steadfast love and grace of God is fresh every day.

You may be struggling to accept someone’s apology for wrongs done to you. Watch out for pride, it lurks in the darkest places with the false promise that “all’s fine”, when in fact, all’s wrong.

To be human is to live with a known or hidden weakness and be humble therewith.

Your dance steps may be goof steps, but if they’re from the heart to the Lord, He’ll receive them as delightful offerings.

Enjoy this video clip of the victory dance from the winning school at the Yei Students’ Marathon 2013.

A little over a week ago, I woke up
thinking of James Ibori, the former governor of
Delta State in Nigeria who few months ago pleaded guilty to 10 crimes relating to substantive
counts of money laundering, deception and fraud.

He’s
currently serving a 13years jail term in a UK prison. Someone said an “Amen!”
to that, right? The presiding Judge thought Ibori stole more than he was being
charged for. But the man pleaded guilty. Does that mean he said I’m sorry?

Click
here for my
earlier note in pidgin English, first posted on facebook,
reflecting on the possibility of James Ibori’s transformation in prison. I really like
this piece.

Our financial state as a fellowship on campus in 1992 was so
bad, we looked to 7Up for redemption. It was those days of amazing
promos aired by major soft drink companies, led by 7Up and Pepsi and later,
Coca Cola. They offered attractive prizes, from cash to brand new cars. I remember 13 Jettas!!

All you had to do was buy a bottle of any of their products,
check the inside of crown cork for an instant gift item or match some numbers
or letters written inside the crown cork to win the mega prizes.

Lucky winners were announced weekly on a Network TV Show.
The tension in the Nation was memorable as people consumed these products with more than mere refreshment in mind.

Our motive on campus was sincere so we added fervent prayers
to facilitate the anticipated jackpot. We were later convinced it was gambling and
stopped.  

I heard the story then of a man who threw a birthday party
for his 3yr old child and served the kids in the neighborhood bottles of 7Up
and Pepsi but without the crown corks. They all refused the drinks since the
celebrant’s dad took the corks.

The Nigeria Medical Association protested to the government, as they
felt the promos would soon lead to increased cases of diabetes and other related
diseases nationwide. They brought the promos to an abrupt end.

This short article (much like an ad) on the  $500m
lottery jackpot up for grabs now in the USA caught my attention yesterday. It
reminded me of the expectations we nursed on campus those days, when a bag of
7Up and Pepsi crown corks all colored with luck and hope, jangled away in my
locker.

A friend asked me sometime ago, “What’s wrong with
desiring to win a lottery so one can use the money to help others? If one gave
the entire winnings from a lottery or most of it to feed the poor, would that
be wrong?”

What of the American Visa Lottery? Is that gambling
too?

After all the Bible says, “Sow your seed in the
morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which
will succeed…” Ecc
11:6 Quite a punchy scripture for ardent gamblers you’d say.

But doesn’t dependence on luck undermine the favor, grace and
sovereignty of God or are there exceptions? What does the Bible say about
gambling? Is it the same as “casting lots” or “sowing
seeds”? Should we just leave God out of this matter?

Not many things can be as alluring as the desire to get rich
effortlessly and quick. Corruption thrives on account of this and even
Christians struggle in the snare of opportunities that are questionable.

Someone said though, “…playing the lottery is much like
drinking alcohol. If you can’t do it without a dirty conscience then don’t, but
be careful that what you are feeling is not the guilt heaped upon you by
Pharisaical pietists who will spend thousands on golf clubs… and all manners
of entertainments not employed for life or furtherance of the Gospel…”

Addiction to gambling, like alcohol has broken many marriages and
shattered many dreams. Its seductive nature provides a great platform for seeds
of covetousness to manifest in manifold insidious forms.

That said, what if someone bought you the ticket that
eventually won, would you toss it into the fire with a shout like, “Get
behind me Satan!!” or would you thank God for the miracle? What if a
lottery winner pays the tithe in full or even in part to your church or ministry,
as the leader, would you return it?

What counsel would you give someone planning to spend some
money on gambling this weekend?

It’s a new year again and we are as
usual, extending good wishes to friends and loved ones.

But do you think there’s a
connection between man’s capacity for happiness and his understanding of the
essence of life?

We’ve wished many people a happy New
Year within the first four days of this 2012; yet, some of them are now
overwhelmed with grief occasioned by a fresh event within this New Year.

Nigerians awoke on 1st January 2012
to a bad news. Government announced the immediate deregulation of petroleum
products. Many are yet to recover from the shock and some are gearing for “war”.

There’s an overbearing superstition
here that suggests that bad news, or misfortune, or pain, or creditors, or solicitors
seeking financial assistance in particular, at the beginning of a week or month
or the New Year, is an evil omen. This is a lie. We’re as Christians are under a far superior
government and covenant.

The pursuit of happiness is the
cornerstone of most cultures and world ideologies. It is simply human to seek a
life without pain.

“Please this is a New Year, let’s
not…” “I don’t want to start 2012 with…” are some comments people make as they plot their way out of conflicts or challenges that may actually be the stepping
stones to unimaginable joy in the course of the year.

Should happiness be our primary
objective since its very nature is ephemeral and often dependent on circumstances
or events over which we have little control? 
I think not.

As disciples of Christ, should our
definition of happiness be anchored on having all our prayers answered and
things going as planned? Is craving a happy New Year simply another wish for
“my will to be done, instead of God’s”?

If any disciple of Christ desperately desires
happiness this year, his or her obedience to Jesus cannot be subjective. Recall
the Hymn, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in
Jesus…”? Think again on the lyrics of this great Hymn.

Each year will serve us its own
dose of challenges that will attempt to ridicule our faith in God’s ability to
perform. Let’s remember that every offer
of happiness at the expense of truth and righteousness is a sweet poison.

The signs and songs of last Christmas are beginning to fade, but
Emmanuel is still here. He’ll still be present when our birthday gifts and
presents from last Christmas are old, broken or lost. He’ll still be here when
the loved ones we started this year with pass away.

The question is, “How close
will you be to Him as the year grows old?” Better and brighter should be the end of this year than however it has started for you.

I wish you and yours a Year filled with
God’s overwhelming and calming presence, one who’s sour and sweet events, all
working together, will showcase the great wisdom and glory of this God that
calls you “Mine”. 

Our students’ marathon in Yei was not without drama. A runner
who had come in 7th, was eventually disqualified. The lesson of which I pray
stays with me till the end of time.

This boy lost his registration slip at the starting
line!! He fell down as the race began but desperate to catch up with the rest,
he didn’t wait to find his registration slip and continued with the race.

The rule was that all runners must return to the
finish line with their registration slip that had their details, our ministry
logo and the paint marks of all four stages along the marathon path– Black,
Red, White and Green; as proof that they ran past those stages.

As we received the winners and registered them, each
provided their slip. But this boy comes and shows me the paint marks on his fingers and began to explain:

“I ran past all the stages, see the paint marks
on my fingers, I used my fingers to touch the paint at all the stages…”

I asked, “Where’s your slip?”

He went on and on, explaining his predicament and
pleading. Sadly, he’d broken one of the cardinal rules of this marathon.

I was devastated. Right before me was a scenario that
must not play out in heaven for any disciple of Christ. He was in tears but the
rule had to apply.

I’ve continued to ask myself since then, “Should
I have let him have his place? “After all this is a sport we organized to
win students to Jesus and he proved he ran the distance, going
through the four stages, though without his slip.”

Was it fair to have disqualified him? What do you
think?

We didn’t plan for
disqualifications or even think there will be any. This was too simple a race for
anyone to go wrong; so we thought. But isn’t that why laws are made? They
aren’t made just to catch offenders but more importantly, to show and maintain a standard.

This marathon awakened me again to a harsh
reality– making it to the finish line
doesn’t guarantee the prize yet. Apostle Paul said he wanted to finish his race with joy. (Acts 20:24)

Jesus taught this lesson when
He said, “When the Judgment Day comes,
MANY will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many
demons and performed MANY miracles!” (obviously new testament believers)

Then I will say to them, ‘I NEVER knew you. Get away from
me, you WICKED PEOPLE!’ (Matt 7:22-23
GNB my emphasis) Wicked…? How? Why?

Apostle Paul knew something of this
fact, so he said, “… I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 
(1Cor 9:27 NIV)

You may not be stirred like I am,
since you didn’t witness the agony of this boy. But I hope your imagination is
good. It may be time for a pit stop.

In John 17, Jesus poured out His heart in prayer and what we see is an ocean of concerns and passion that will flow into eternity. He prayed for the unity of His followers here with a passion we should take seriously. (John 17:11, 20-23)

I love Albert
Barnes and his commentary on this subject.

The union of Christians,
for which the Saviour prayed, would be complete or perfect if there were no
controversies, no envyings, no contentions, and no heart-burnings and
jealousies.

It is worthy of remark
here how entirely the union of His people occupied the mind of Jesus as He drew
near to death. He saw the danger of strifes and contentions in the church. He
knew the imperfections of even the best of men. 

He saw how prone they
would be to passion and ambition; how ready to mistake love of sect or party
for zeal for pure religion; how selfish and worldly men in the church might
divide His followers, and produce unholy feeling and contention; and He saw,
also, how much this would do to dishonor religion [the Christian faith].

Hence, He took
occasion, when He was about to die, to impress the importance of union on His
disciples. By solemn admonition, and by most tender and affecting appeals to
God in supplication, He showed His sense of the value of this union. 

He used the most
sublime and impressive illustration; He adverted to the eternal union between
the Father and himself; He reminded them of His love, and of the effect that
their union would have on the world, to fix it more deeply in their hearts. The
effect has shown the infinite wisdom of the Saviour.

The world still lies
in wickedness; and the friends of Jesus, bound by the cords of eternal love,
should advance together against the common enemy, and spread the triumphs of
the gospel around the globe.

I’m studying Roman 14 this season and asking many questions. Here’s one- “What should constitute the core elements of the “unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace” graciously gifted to us?”

I’ve always applied Luke 15 to unbelievers. I guess it’s because the chapter started with the mention of sinners. But isn’t the main perspective here God’s delight in recovering His lost children? Jesus was illustrating the joy of finding the one that was once among many and finished with a classic- the story of a father and his family.

That prodigal child could be a rebellious believer, a onetime active player in the Kingdom. Jesus was teaching His followers how to respond to brethren who quit but eventually returned.

As Christians we know how to welcome new converts, we rejoice at their arrival and share their testimonies. There are churches whose reception for first-timers is first class. Yet we hardly celebrate the restoration of backslidden brethren. Ever seen a church hold thanksgiving services for restored backsliders and give them gifts?

Should we now reward deserters like that father did to his prodigal son? Religion would suggest not. But that’s the unconditional love of a father [the Father] on display. My friend Butch Maltby said, “Mercy is a river we should never dam.” Oh, this is beyond mercy. This is how heaven kisses the earth. By grace are we saved and by grace still, are we re-saved or restored and subsequently celebrated.

My reflections here were prompted by the comments a dear disciple made. His life challenges forced me to shut down my planned activities last weekend to seek the Lord with and for him. In the course of our sharing, he said, “I’m tired of being a burden to ministers of God…” This was a loaded statement. I wondered if some ministers had unwittingly expressed (to his notice) their disgust for his unending issues in words or actions.

But would this broken disciple feel he’s a nuisance to a doctor if he’d gone to the hospital? Would he feel he’s disturbing a witchdoctor if out of desperation he chose to visit one? He would have paid these people and therefore would demand his right. Oh, but this brother was beginning to feel estranged to God’s ministers, to God’s blessings…. even to God Himself.

In Luke 15:28 we see the older, spiritual brother. He was obviously an excellent manager, one that would make a good church worker or even a pastor in some churches today. He kept all the rules, worked very hard, believed in efficiency, vision and all kinds of principles promoted today. But he never knew what it meant to enjoy his father at the deepest level. So, he couldn’t express same to another.

He was angry and would have none of this. He saw no reason for restoration of dead things. For him, this was a distraction, a misplacement of priorities and an irresponsible use of family (Kingdom) resources. One good thing though, he wasn’t pretentious. How often do we make careless comments based on our poor judgment? I feel very guilty.

Imagine this father explaining himself (after the celebration!) to his self righteous son. Isn’t Jesus nudging us here to understand His delight and passion for broken people?

Their father’s conclusion was definitive: “But it was necessary to celebrate and to be glad, because this your brother was dead and came back to life, and had been lost and was found.” (Luke 15:32)

Instead of gossiping weak and broken disciples, let’s pray for their restoration and plan a big celebration in anticipation of their return. That’s what Jesus is doing right now!!

What
does a movement look like? The question has been asked and answered several
times by many, based on their own perspectives. Few have started one. Something
that looks like it has been attempted by others and they have a following. The
rest are watching and wondering and debating what this and that is all about.

In 2007, Seth Barnes had made a call to – Join the
Movement and later that year, he showed here
how to start one. Here’s a quote and book reference from that blog, “The
book The
Starfish and the Spider explores the ability of headless organizations like
A.A., Al Qaeda and Wikipedia to organize themselves and thrive. It’s a
phenomenon that explains how the Apaches survived the white man while the
Aztecs died off.”

As I think of Osama
Bin Laden who we hear was killed yesterday, I’m no longer wondering if he
started a movement with Al Qaeda.
It seems so.
Analysis of the man by the press, and what he “accomplished” within
the last 20years shreds every doubt. Osama Bin Laden, a multimillionaire civil
engineer, forsook all that to pioneer a movement founded, funded and
focused on international terrorism.

His choices were evil and they made him the world’s most notorious criminal.
But his admirers, many of whom are youth and young adults adore him for his
guts. He challenged and fought the West and its allies and died doing so. He’s
a hero to many and if his movement is for real, then we should expect a global
avalanche of terrorism from his disciples, who are citizens of your nation and
mine. But will they outlast or outdo us? NEVER!!

The Lord Jesus declared, “…
this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to
all nations. And then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14) His is a match against satanic oppression and operations. Two thousand years on, His followers are still
propelled by His prophetic utterances and historic call, engaging and infusing
all nations with His ideas, at great costs. All nations are reacting to their
unquenchable zeal, great ingenuity and speed. Jesus is on the move and this
movement CANNOT be checkmated! This movement is the product of a promise made to Abraham by God.

We behold in our day, more disciples (children of Abraham by faith in Christ) from all over the world partnering with
Jesus as He diligently executives His eternal plan for global rule and worship. It’s clear
that His is the emergence of a universal phenomenon fueled by love that has changed
times and seasons. It’s the greatest, most expensive, most audacious and dangerous
venture known to man. Are you fully and truly connected to it?

Having died for His cause and raised again, His unquestionable claim of all
power in heaven and on earth gives His true followers unstoppable impetus; with
which they embrace the pains of life with joy, endure the humiliations of men and scoff at death’s terror as
they make Him known where He strategically locates them.

I’m in South Sudan today,
supported by a host of passionate partners because of this movement. We are
praying with hope that something big and great enough to be God’s is birth
among the youths here. We’ll know it’s happening when the news out of South Sudan
changes on account of Christ’s fame.

Much
talk about love this week as Valentine’s Day seemed to have once again forced
some people to think and act in certain “strange” ways. I couldn’t but pause to
wonder, on what First Corinthians Thirteen means to someone in my line of
work, having understood that sacrificial love is not based on a feeling, but a
determined act of the will, a joyful resolve to put the welfare of others above my own.

But
this type of love does not come naturally to humans. We are incapable of producing such love. So, if we are to love as God loves, that
love can only come from its true Source. Is this the same love which “has been
poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us?” (Romans 5:5)

I
ask, because I’m thinking though 1Cor 13… that if I’m able to speak fluently the language of
the people I’m praying to reach with the gospel and even integrate thoroughly
into their culture, but have no love, the impact of my speech and mannerism
are no more for Christ than that of a businessman who comes to exploit the
people.

I
may have the gift of contextualizing God’s word when I deliver it to my
hearers, I may have all knowledge about their customs, I may have the faith needed to
combat witchcraft, raise the dead, heal diseases but if I have no love, I am
nothing.

I
may give everything I have to poor orphans, to hungry widows and homeless
no-bodies, I may even give my life for them, but if I have no love, this does
no good.

Love
is (and not limited to) …restraining
myself long enough till they take advantage of me, thinking in their thought
patterns and dreaming their dreams, caring enough to understand their world
view, listening to their questions, feeling their burdens, respecting them, identifying
with them in their need and belonging to
them.

Love
is eternal.

Cultures pass away. Dynamic equivalents will change because cultures change. Patterns of worship and church administration will need revision from age to
age. Languages will be altered over time. Institutions will be replaced… when men feel they’ve outlived their purpose.

Since
I’m imperfect, I can only study how to express the gospel cross-culturally, trying to free it from my cultural prejudice. I am able to do this only in a
limited way, but I pray that the Holy Spirit will use my life to show Christ to
those within the scope of my vision and mission.

Meanwhile these remain… Identification, Contextualization and Love, BUT THE
GREATEST OF THESE IS STILL LOVE.