Christo-Kwame Coalition

FROM MY EARTHEN LIPS

2011-12-12T09:37:00.001Z

Papa God, erm…it is I

The lad who ventur’d upon thy ladder

That stood against thy proud wall

The very one that bigot’d friend of thy Son

Crept up upon to have the-never-to-be peer

Upon thy manors, mountains and martyrs

…the fellow who follow’d his folly

And fell headlong in the field of blood

Whose belly burst and bowel swell

Aye, Hiscariot,his blatant name

But I… I heard their resounding joy

The cloud of witnesses, I mean

And try as I did, I could not resist

A swerve past thy ageless law

So came I racing up thy ladder

To peer over thy proud wall

And …with what I saw

Came I here to my knees

Sombre with but one plea

From my earthen lips:

O so I may know their brokenness

That once won over such worldliness,

Papa, make me e’er so hungry

Make me so hungry

So it may kill me umpteen times over

O that one death more will be my heav’nly bride

That ought ride upon the loveliest crescent

Ever to have besieg’d mine eyes

That I may scourge my soul e’er so severe

O that he may humbly fall besides me

Whene’er I touch my knees to thy ground

So the nations may be mine and O thine

That I may deny my dozy eyes much sleep

And my weary shoulder the back-rest

O that I may tarry with the stars

And seat my bed-sick back by thy Bless’d Book

Even when the candlestick then so deprav’d

Wish he’d smother the flicker

Papa, make me e’er so hungry

That if there e’er be a creak

In the unflaw’d diagonals of thy throne

It'd be the thunder that sends me hurryin'

Tools in hand to mend the wedge

That if the loudest commun’d prayer be ne’erheard

The faintest groan outta my gaunt frame

May rush the fleetin’ response of the knightedcherub

That long after the harvesters are gone and farremov’d

I’d yet glean and gather wheat meet for a legion

Papa God, wouldst thou make me so hungry

That the many scores of whom I’m so shy

May be the very throng that spin out

Naked beseechings from my asham’d lips?

Wouldst thou make me so hungry

That if the e’er so famed glutton

Should chance upon my ravenous appetite

He’d gladly give up the culinary evil?

Wouldst thou make me so hungry

That a dozen-dose of laden insight

Out from this hallow’d mystery

May be the very increase of my pangs?

O surely then, make me so, so hungry

That I may hurl myself e’er so hard upon thybreast

That thy father-heart seems to me so motherly

That O the most unstable of thy waters

Without breakin’ her filmy backside

May sustain me upon her drippin’ tide

And that if my dead beat feet

Must travel the thirstiest mile

Just so you’d reach the remotest transgressor

I’d scamper there without no whine

Father, O Abba, make me e’er so hungry

That if all the longings

Should lay me to rest

To forever hold my peace

Then O I shall surely die

Just so I might prove thee o’er and o’er again

If it be for a time as many as my days

For then, while I lie in eternity-rest

The ripples thereof shall shatter men upon thyaltar

Nine generations even more

Till thy given-name be trumpet’d by sucklings

And O the countenance of these earthlings

Be the very illumination of thee

GO FOR IT!

2011-12-07T17:30:00.000Z

Life, I have discovered, is all about choices. A choice to make it or to mess it all up! And as long as time and season remains, I daresay, choices will never pass away! What then remains standing between those two points of choice – success or failure – is unsurprisingly YOU; and all YOU need to do is to decide to make it.I’m sure this is clear to you by now if you’ve ever had the desire to be successful at anything praise-worthy.

But what I think we all often do relegate to the rear is the fact that the God who chose us and followed through to call us unto Himself more than desires to make us not only successful but more-so be SIGNIFICANT to our generation. Can you imagine a manufacturer wanting his product to fail on the market!

I’ll leave you to your thoughts… but really, if your quest for success is not being opposed by your Maker, the only thing that remains then is, as has always been, your choice, your resolve to make it happen! Make that choice here and now! NOTHING can stop you!

They that are for you far outnumber they that are against you; and GREATER IS HE that is in you than he that is in the world! Maintain that same stance at all times; be unflinching even in the face of adversity. In fact adversities or obstacles, I say, is only a confirmation that you are a bundle of success going somewhere to happen and they come to test the intensity of your resolve to get there!

God uses xchallenges to stabilize and build you up for that great role you will be playing soon in the lives of the millions of people out there starting right where you are now.You are just unstoppable!

IT’S ALL YOURS, GO FOR IT!

Christo-Kwame Coalition: BE A BETTER YOU!!

2011-12-07T17:29:00.000Z

Christo-Kwame Coalition: BE A BETTER YOU!!

BE A BETTER YOU!!

2011-12-07T17:16:00.001Z

If you aspire to be anything today...I prayyou: be a better version of YOURSELF and never a carbon copy of anybody else.You may not be a choice brand or a household name today but a consistentdolling out of a better you day after day will ensure you get there.

Jesus at age 12 may have been impressive, arguing out his case with the eldersand teachers of the law but well, if you did meet him at age 30 you would beabsolutely dumbfounded...his hearers could not but declare..."no onespeaks like this man does". Amazing right?

Guess what? At the beginning of his ministry...he walks into a synagoguein Galilee and AS WAS HIS CUSTOM...he asks for the scroll (scriptures) andfinding there, the book of Isaiah, he begun to read.... So what custom haveyou been keeping, what have you been consistently doing over the days, monthsand years? It sure will inform what version of you will be tomorrow!

Again, when Jesus started out in ministry...there this famouswild-locust-and-honey eating preacher by name John the Baptist!! He was the renownedand acclaimed preacher of the day. John was the standard - and Jesus himselfacknowledged that! But did you notice how Jesus sets out to accomplish what hewas designed to fulfill rather than lurk in the shadows of John? His testimonyafter he was done and dusted was this: "how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healingall who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him." Thatwas His JOB...his life work!

Yeah, John was the VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS...But Jesus was (still is) the LIGHT OFWORLD...and for Him to ever be that he had to find his own VOICE...he had tobecome the SHEPHERD after whose voice the sheep would follow.

Whose voice are you? Your own or some else'?Sure, be inspired by great minds, voices and hands of our time! But instead ofjust taking it all in and being wowed by their exploits, God desires you to letthem inspire you to find your place, stay there and groom & grow yourselfto a stature worthy of the call to destiny! Don't rush to push yourself intothe limelight, no! Just build gradual and good momentum and when its time, youshall be unleashed to your world and to your generation!

And surely, the testimony regarding Davidafter he was gone shall be yours also: "For when David had served God'spurpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathersand his body decayed."

So what shall your story be?

POST-MORDERNISM: WHERE I STAND

2010-06-14T13:30:00.003Z

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (Amplified Bible)

This week, I was scheduled to tackle the creation of man from a biblical perspective as I informed my audience. But I have had to shelve that post for next week. Over the weekend my attention was drawn to an article I received in my mail from www.gotquestions.org and I instantly knew I’d love to share it with my audience. This is chiefly because it is in synergy with our previous week’s discussion albeit from a not-so simplistic perspective. I was, therefore, very much tempted to literally dilute the content of the material I received to make it more suitable for both my particular audience and my argument. Eventually I found it more prudent to put the whole treatise up here for the avoidance of the loss of any crucial parts central to the theme.

At a glance, the – rather long – article highlights the dangers of postmodernism (absolutely NO fears). But essentially it drives home the absoluteness of the fact that…he who comes to Him must believe that HE EXISTS and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6)

Question: "What are the dangers of postmodernism?"

Answer: Simply put, postmodernism is a philosophy that affirms no objective or absolute truth, especially in matters of religion and spirituality. When confronted with a truth claim regarding the reality of God and religious practice, Postmodernism’s viewpoint is exemplified in the statement “that may be true for you, but not for me.” While such a response may be completely appropriate when discussing favorite foods or preferences toward art, such a mindset is dangerous when it is applied to reality because it confuses matters of taste and opinion with truth.

The term “Postmodernism” literally means “after Modernism” and is used to philosophically describe the current era which came after the age of Modernism. Postmodernism is a reaction (or perhaps more appropriately, a disillusioned response) to Modernism’s failed promise of using human reason alone to better mankind and make the world a better place. Because one of Modernism’s beliefs was that absolutes did indeed exist, Postmodernism seeks to “correct” things by first eliminating absolute truth and making everything (including the empirical sciences and religion) relative to an individual’s beliefs and desires.

The dangers of Postmodernism can be viewed as a downward spiral that begin with the rejection of absolute truth, which then leads to a loss of distinctions in matters of religion and faith, and finally culminates in a philosophy of religious pluralism that says no faith or religion is objectively true and therefore no one can claim his or her religion is true and another is false.

Dangers of Postmodernism - #1 – Relative Truth

Postmodernism’s stance of relative truth is the outworking of many generations of philosophical thought. From Augustine to the Reformation, the intellectual aspects of Western civilization and the concept of truth were dominated by theologians. But, beginning with the Renaissance periods of the 14th – 17th centuries, thinkers began to elevate humankind to the center of reality. If one were to look at human periods of history like a family tree, the Renaissance would be Modernism’s grandmother and the Enlightenment would be its mother. Renee Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” personified the beginning of this era. God was not the center of truth any longer – man now was.

The Enlightenment was in a way the complete imposition of the scientific model of rationality upon all aspects of truth and claimed that only scientific data could be objectively understood, defined, and defended. Truth as it pertained to religion was left out and discarded. The philosopher who straddled this epoch’s and Modernism’s contribution to relative truth was the Prussian Immanuel Kant and his work The Critique of Pure Reason, which appeared in 1781. Among other things, Kant argued that true knowledge about God was impossible so he created a divide of knowledge between “facts” and “faith.” According to Kant, “Facts have nothing to do with religion.” The end result was that spiritual matters were assigned to be matters of the heart and just opinion, and only the empirical sciences were allowed to speak of truth. And while Modernism believed in absolutes at least in the area of science, God’s special revelation (the Bible) was evicted from the realm of truth and certainty.

From Modernism came Postmodernism and, whereas Kant marked the philosophical transition from the Enlightenment to Modernism, Frederick Nietzsche may symbolize the shift from Modernism to Postmodernism. As the patron saint of postmodernist philosophy, Nietzsche held to “perspectivism,” which says that all knowledge (including science) is a matter of perspective and interpretation. Many other philosophers have built upon Nietzsche’s work (e.g. Foucault, Rorty, and Lyotard) and have shared his rejection of God and religion in general. They also rejected any hint of absolute truth, or as Lyotard put it, a rejection of a metanarrative (a truth that transcends all peoples and cultures).

This philosophical march through history against objective truth has resulted in Postmodernism having a complete aversion to any claim to absolutes, with such a mindset naturally painting a huge bull’s-eye on something that declares to be inerrant truth, such as the Bible.

Dangers of Postmodernism - #2 – Loss of Discernment

The great theologian Thomas Aquinas said, “It is the task of the philosopher to make distinctions.” What Aquinas meant is that truth is dependent upon the ability to discern – the capability to distinguish “this” from “that” in the realm of knowledge. However, if objective and absolute truth does not exist, then everything becomes a matter of personal interpretation. To the postmodern individual, the author of a book does not possess the correct interpretation of their work; it is the reader who actually determines what the book really means – a process called deconstruction. And given that there are multiple readers (vs. one author), there are naturally multiple interpretations, with the end result being no universally valid interpretation.

Such a chaotic situation makes it impossible to make meaningful or lasting distinctions between interpretations because there is no standard or benchmark that can be used. This especially applies to matters of faith and religion because the philosophers of the Enlightenment and Modernism had already deposed religion to the compartment of opinion. Such being the case, it naturally follows that attempting to make proper and meaningful distinctions in the area of religion (ones that dare suggest that one belief is right and another invalid) carries no more weight than one person arguing that chocolate tastes better than vanilla. In such situations, it becomes impossible to objectively adjudicate between competing truth claims.

Dangers of Postmodernism - #3 – Pluralism

If absolute truth does not exist, and if there is no way to make meaningful, right/wrong distinctions between different faiths and religions, then the natural conclusion is that all beliefs must be given equal weight and considered valid. The proper term for this practical outworking in Postmodernism is “philosophical pluralism.” With pluralism, no religion has the right to pronounce itself right or true and the other competing faiths false, or even relatively inferior. For those who espouse a philosophical religious pluralism, there is no longer any heresy, except perhaps the view that there are heresies. D. A. Carson underscores conservative evangelical’s concerns about what they see as the dangerous element of pluralism when he says, “In my most somber moods I sometimes wonder if the ugly face of what I refer to as philosophical pluralism is the most dangerous threat to the gospel since the rise of the Gnostic heresy in the second century.”

These progressive dangers of Postmodernism – relative truth, a loss of discernment, and philosophical pluralism – represent real and imposing threats to Christianity because they collectively relegate God’s Word to something that has no real authority over mankind and no ability to show itself as true in a world of competing religious voices. What is Christianity’s response to these challenges?

Response to the Dangers of Postmodernism

It should first be stated that Christianity claims to be absolutely true, claims that meaningful distinctions in matters of right/wrong (as well as spiritual truth and falsehood) exist, and claims to be correct in its claims about God with any contrary claims from competing religions being incorrect. Such a stance provokes cries of “arrogance” and “intolerance” from Postmodernism. However, truth is not a matter of attitude or preference, and when closely examined, the foundations and philosophies of Postmodernism quickly crumble and reveal Christianity’s claims to be both plausible and compelling.

First, Christianity claims that absolute truth exists. In fact, Jesus specifically says that He was sent and born to do one thing: “to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). Postmodernism says that no truth should be affirmed, yet its position is one that is self-defeating – it affirms at least one absolute truth: that no truth should be affirmed. This means that Postmodernism does believe in absolute truth, and such a fact is exemplified by its philosophers who write books stating things they expect their readers to embrace and believe as truth. Putting it simply, one professor has said, “When someone says there is no such thing as truth, they are asking you not to believe them. So don’t.”

Second, Christianity claims that meaningful distinctions exist between the Christian faith and all other beliefs. However, it should be understood that those claiming that meaningful distinctions do not exist between religions are actually making a distinction. They are attempting to showcase a difference in what they believe to be true and the Christian’s truth claims. Postmodernist authors expect their readers to come to the right conclusions about what they have written and will correct those who interpret their work differently than they have intended. Again, their position and philosophy proves itself to be self-defeating because they eagerly make distinctions between what they believe to be correct and what they see as being false.

Finally, Christianity claims to be universally true in what it says regarding man’s lostness before God, the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of fallen mankind, and the separation between God and anyone who chooses not to accept what God says about sin and the need for repentance. When Paul addressed the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers on Mars Hill, he said, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30, emphasis added). Paul’s declaration was not a “this is true for me, but may not be true for you” statement, but rather an exclusive and universal command (i.e. a metanarrative) from God to everyone. Any postmodernist who says this is false is committing an error against his own pluralistic philosophy that says no faith or religion is incorrect because, once again, he violates his own mandate of saying every religion is equally true.

In the same way that it is not arrogant for a math teacher to insist that 2+2=4 or for a locksmith to insist that only one key will fit a locked door, it is not arrogant for the Christian to stand against Postmodernist thinking and insist that Christianity is true and anything opposed to it is false. Absolute truth does exist, consequences do exist for being wrong, and while pluralism may be desirable in matters of food preferences, it is not so in matters of truth. The Christian is to present God’s truth in love and simply ask any postmodernist who is angered by the exclusive claims of Christianity, “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).

Credits: www.GotQuestions.org

THE QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING 2.

2010-06-07T13:32:00.001Z

What would You rather Believe?

“Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
(Isa 45:9 & 19) NKJV

It is pretty rational and straightforward to be of the impression that the worlds came to be as a result of some cosmic chaos (or conspiracy) and that humans evolved over time from one kind of animal or the other. Of course, that’s acceptable because it is logically easy to follow. However to understand how it really happened from the biblical beginning it takes something other than plain logic, and that is belief. A belief that there is an Eternal Self-sufficient God who exists and transcends anything that is, was and shall ever be made. A God who was present before the atom of anything came to be; who cannot be limited by time, space nor any conceivable thing that can be confined or contained. Now this would absolutely qualify such a Being, even in the logical sense, to be present at the time when any kind of cosmic machination could have taken place.

So whom would you rather believe? There is that branch of science that explores the universe; the scientist (researcher) who through a kaleidoscope (myriad) of theories, - themselves the suppositions of other mortals like yourself who sought to understand the universe by studying nature (which is constantly changing) – make inferences and conjectures as to how everything could have began; and what it consequently plicates for humankind. Then there is the Eternal God, who through the Spirit who proceeds from Himself moves upon holy men inspiring them to pen down for the sake of all mankind the very beseechings of the heart of God that have come to be known as holy scriptures.

This may not be the appropriate platform nor the time to delve into the subject of the codes and the dynamics of translations that the scriptures have undergone. We will just stick to the basics, being the fact that the scriptures (aka Bible) is the express infallible Word of God. In them we oftentimes find a graphic recollection of events as they happened. Then again we find in several places where God (the Hebrew God) makes a personal statement by Himself, his prophets, angels and other chosen vessels He exclusively reserve the right to use. Space would not allow us to talk of the commandments, precepts, laws and institutions of the Old Testament; and of the life, teachings and works of Jesus the Christ in the New Covenant (Testament) including the writings of His chosen apostles who were the forerunners of His Body the Church. – too much information, perhaps!

Now I pray my audience not to get me wrong! I have come to love and respect scientists (researchers, archaeologists, astronauts etc inclusive) and highly regard their works. Fact is, technology is the reason why I’m able to reach you on the other side of the diaspora at the click of an icon. Then I count on the power of electricity like nobody’s business! And all these are the works of my learned fellows. Again there are various branches of the sciences, so how can my ignorant self bunch them all up together and discredit them? In fact I’m too delighted to hear and read of discoveries and inventions and by all means urge scientists to continue with their commendable work. However my joy is often rested in the fact that inventions and discoveries inform me and indeed the rest of the world of the awesomeness and meticulousness of the God who is the progenitor of the whole creation. Isn’t He awesome!

So you see it is a matter of plain logic against belief! Any of which changes the face of the argument such that it waters down the potency of the other. The former is steeped in the absolute possibility of everything according to a traceable tenure of events and therefore quite believes in nothing. The latter however is solely dependent on the absolute existence of a Divine Being who is responsible for the life and predetermined order of the whole creation and therefore can be trusted for an accurate and true expression of the span of events. Belief therefore clearly rules out the possibility of just anything happening out of the blue; hence everything must have been foreknown and predestined.

Finally, logic is a head thing; the heart can be totally excluded. Belief however is hidden in the activity of the heart which should eventually engage the head. No wonder the scripture says … with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. So if you don’t comprehend it yet, no cause for alarm: only believe! Someday your head will come around, literally! Well so choose you this day whom you will believe! When you’re done, come let’s strike gold in the next chapter!

THE QUEST FOR UNDERSTANDING 1.

2010-05-31T11:00:00.013Z

All the Questions Asked

I, the Preacher was King over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this grievous task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.
(Eccl. 1 vs. 12 & 13) NKJV

The other day I sat pensive in the couch, helplessly engrossed in a programme airing on one of the world renowned Christian television networks. It was about this young lady, a computer science student in one of the universities in Nigeria, who happens to be a midget. She tearfully recounts how all through her life, because of her size and her demeanor, the rest of society pick up on her and oftentimes neglect her. Many verbally abuse her and openly declare their disgust for her kind – even a few more are scared to death just at the thought of being anywhere near the region of her presence.

The stigmatization continues to the university. Here, however, things look up as she meets this kindhearted fellow student who befriends her and virtually commits her life to being her caregiver. This friend performs chores including washing her clothes, preparing her meals and carrying her to and from campus on her back – yeah, like a mother would her baby!

Caught in the narrative I was so moved that my eyes begun to fill with tears. I was particularly touched on two grounds: the courage of the midget (boldened for emphasis rather than to spite the character concerned) who manages to push herself up the academic ladder to pursue tertiary education in the face of the apathy of the rest of society; and also the amazing demonstration of grace and selflessness of her care-giving friend – such enchanting display of love seldom seen!

The above episode really got me thinking. Simple yet serious questions flew to me while I pondered the experience afterwards. Is this midget any less human than the rest of us? Does her size and perhaps her defects make her any less qualified to be alive? Does she really have a spirit and soul just like every other human in spite the limitations her body presents? What wrong did she do appearing this side of the earth in the package she finds herself in? Does she have the potential to attain to an accomplished life like everybody else? Can she make it all the way up?

So what about Equal Opportunities? Is there really Hope for all of us? Is Life fair? What at all is the meaning of this Life? What are we here for? Does it really matter what package we come in? I’m sure you’d love to have answers to these and other like-questions that hit at us every now and again; and so does even Solomon the wisest mortal to have ever lived besides Jesus the Christ! He says so himself in our opening scripture. Well, who best can tell how he fashioned the product than the manufacturer himself. If he made it, you bet he knows what he designed it for and no better person to tell of its capabilities.

I would not be wrong then, should I turn to the Book of Life, the Bible to learn of the manufacturer the why, how, and what He moulded into the fabric of humankind. Would you then join me, in the coming weeks, as we together explore the scriptures to unearth timeless keys that can aid our understanding of the current predicament of mankind? Let’s meet again!

COMING BACK WITH A BANG!!

2010-05-28T12:03:00.004Z

Warmest Greetings, fellow bloggers and my cherished audience.

It's been such a long time since any activity here on this blog - June 20 2008 was the last time...wow!!! My apologies to all!

Well this blog is coming alive all over again...GRRRRREAT NEWS, aint it? Yeah, we are coming back with fresh articles and other literary works to feed our souls and bring a refreshing...one that only the Lord can give. We have lots of things to share...many of which shall be experiences of my own over the period of inactivity here on the blog. So why not meet us here in the coming weeks...frequenting this blog and dropping your comments whenever you can.

May the Lord God truly bring a refreshing from His throne filled with words of life and hope for our walk in this world.

Keep the Flame Alive!

EMBRACING THE KINGDOM LIKE A CHILD

2008-06-20T12:22:00.006Z

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Mark 10:15

Hold the thought up there for a moment…What a declaration! Anyway, thanks for visiting again. This week I’m featuring an article from a fellow writer from the Faithwriters Community by name Joyce Reed. Of all things writers do Joyce decided to sample the thoughts of her Sunday school kids on what their view of God was. Now (without paying any attention to the grammar) the kids came up with some of the simplest expressions about God one could possibly hear. But a closer look at their innocent ideas would reveal the profound, deep-seated truths that really are concerning who God is.

Isn’t God really what they think Him to be? Is He any much different from what your own thoughts of Him are? Do you expect Him to do such things as these kids thank Him for and bid Him to do? I’ll just let you in on Joyce’s laudable work and only pray that as you take this journey down the little (by no means senseless) minds of these kids your own fellowship with God would become as should be – childlike!

Children's View of God

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:14

I had my Sunday school children do one exercise this Sunday; I asked them to write their views on God. I wanted to know what is the first thought that comes to their mind when they hear the word God. Here is what I got from them:

"God is so nice that when I was not feeling nice. God is so great that he help in my studies. And If we want anything he gives us. God loves all even he love our parents. But whenever I use to get angry he tells me to sing song." -Jennifer

"I like God. I have a lot of love for Him. When we go to church, pastor tells us about God." -Kajol

"God is so great that he help in our studies. And he gives what we want it." -Simran "God is so good. God is so great. God loves us all. He protects us all. He gives us whatever we want."-Joyce

"God loves children very much. God listens to the prayers of the children." -Preeti

"I think about God that whenever I get hurt and I pray to God, the next day my pain disappear. I pray to God everyday. God is good. I trust in God." -Kamlesh

"God help me for the exam to pas for end exam for all help to other exam for other to pas for other final exam to the helps to us help helping me." -Jai

(He wants God to help him in his exam and help others help him in his examƒº)

"God help you yours when we are in trouble and when we are sad." -Sandesh

"When I hear the word God I think that He is merciful God. I think Lord is the most merciful God. Because He has protected me thus far. God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, on earth to wash our sins. And He sacrificed himself on the cross and washed our sins with His blood. I thank God for this." -Joseph 12.

"I think God should give me more comprehensible knowledge and that I should understand well that is taught in school. It should help me in my exam and God should brighten my future. God should help in my school life. God should give me strength and energy. God is a mighty God. I praise the Lord, Jesus Christ, that in my exams God help me and give me many marks to pass. I pray at the feet of God. At the feet of Lord Jesus I pray." -Joel

(Another school Hero ... actually their finals are about to start...)

All these kids are aged 4-13. I was amazed to read their thoughts over God. They have written very small and simple sentences, which hold a lot of meaning.There was another chap, around four, who came to me the other day and said that he fell while playing with his brother and got hurt. He then prayed that night and in the morning the wound was healed. He showed me his knee where he was hurt and he was very excited to tell me that it didn't hurt anymore for God had answered his prayer.

Isn't it awesome? The thoughts are so innocent-love, hope, trust, patience, understanding, expectation, etc. Many say that children learn from their parents, but I guess it is time for us to learn from our kids.

Indeed, unless we become like one of them we cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Only,

Joy

BEYOND THESE WALLS…

2008-06-13T12:26:00.002Z

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Gen. 15:5 (NKJV)

God called Abraham (I’ll call him AB from hence) out of his country, his kindred, and his father’s house to go to a place that He (God) would show him. AB as of then never knew where this Lord was leading him. Fact is he as a pagan of the land of Ur of the Chaldeans had not been familiar with the Jehovah the True God, Possessor of the heavens and the earth. But it so happens that on this peculiar day he hears the voice of Jehovah and chose to obey that voice asking him to move out, bluntly speaking, into the unknown. What a task that must have been! Everything around him, I imagine, must have thought him crazy. Repressive walls surrounded him; limitations were on every side. Who would believe him?

Now as AB and his family embarked on this lopsided sojourn into the unknown, they pitched tents wherever they would make a stopover, dwelling therein for days, weeks or even months. Now how is that, I mean dwelling in tents? You follow through on the command of a God, hitherto unknown to you; He makes you a promise to make you a great nation and He starts you off with territory called “tent”!!. Fact is AB and his entourage dwelt in tents so long that it almost became the Promised Land to them.

Here comes God’s rude awakening. He…brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Wow! Now that must have startled Abraham. He must have looked into the sky and wondered “what in the world is He talking about?” Now was God playing pranks on AB? Nopes not at all! He was actually calling AB out from the tent mentality he had developed. He wanted AB to see beyond the walls of the tents.

On the average, every day of our lives is a natural confrontation with some kind of limitation, some kind of wall that we can’t seem to scale over, a task that seems to stretch our abilities to its taut limits. We find ourselves each day walking into the unknown realm of the next minute; we plan, oh yes we do, but that really is the boundary, the next moment lies awkwardly in the nameless.

In the midst of it all our tendency to triumph or be trounced in the ensuing battle of life lies in our ability, or otherwise failure, to look or see beyond the limitation, barrier or wall;…what lies beyond these walls?

God gave Abraham a bigger, greater view “outside” of the “tent” he had dwelt in most of his sojourn.

Let’s consider the following:

God to Abraham:
“… all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever.” Gen 13:15 (NIV)

Elijah to Elisha:
“… nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” 2 Kings 2:10 (KJV)

Elisha of Servant:
“And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)

God to Jeremiah:
“The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.
The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly…” JER. 1:11 & 12 (NIV)

All of the above is proof of what God will have us do in the midst of the wiles of life. “What do you see?” What you see is what you get! So I’d rather we see beyond! That is what Jesus refers to as “Only Believe” and I may as well add “…looking unto Christ Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith.” Yes, look far beyond with the eyes of faith; that is being spiritually minded; that is how we maintain our winning ways as more than conquerors!

Your find here today is like the profound story of a man named Simeon who waited all his life to SEE the salvation of the Lord…the Lord Jesus Christ. That fateful day in the temple as he held God’s salvation in his tired gray hands he could not but look towards the heavens and proclaim…Lord you may now dispatch your servant in peace, for my eyes have beheld your salvation!

You know what friend prepare yourself to experience God’s rest from your strife! Prepare for a leap beyond the walls; the boundaries are unreal and unfounded …for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38 & 39 (KJV)

HILL OF CROSSES

2008-06-06T15:01:00.003Z

It’s Friday!!!!! Wow, what a week it has been for you and me. I’m sure all your hardwork has paid off or will pay off soon…some of you are probably ready to drop weak from all the hassle…but thankfully you won’t. Praise God!

Well, haven’t I some great news for you this week! See, I know many of my readers have probably not been to a country called Lithuania – I haven’t myself. But Lithuania has such a spectacle in a place called Siauliai (pronounced shoo-lay). It’s a little hill with a whooping amount of Crosses (mostly rosaries) strewn across its dense monumental field, some of which is brought here by pilgrims who come touring this site. However the chunk of the Crosses is specially planted here by the local devouts, most of whom lost relations and friends in many bloody uprisings once to have befallen the nation.

Now why would I bother you this week with something as unconventional as this. Well, the drift I want you to catch is the thought of the devotion with which people would commit themselves to such an idea. I want you to reflect on your own relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and see if you are this committed to Him. Should He be a hill as memorial as the striking Hill of Crosses in Siauliai, would you be as desirous of Him so as to adorn His plains with a thousand Crosses?

So the whole idea of a Hill of Crosses inspired me to come up with a poetry piece I’d like to share with you. My hope is that you’ll enjoy it and perhaps find in its verses the craving that will draw you closer to our Blessed Saviour.

Here we go:

Ever been there,
…To evergreen Lithuania?
Never once have I been here
Lest you someway do someday
You’ll find her in little Siauliai
North the road you can’t miss her
O ‘Tis a Hill of Crosses.

Intensely ‘mongst the pine woodland
Grows the million crucifix
Nay, you need not deified be
Nonetheless, you’ll find her fair
A simple staircase snakes up her
Escorting you all through her bliss
‘Tis one fine Hill of Crosses

Not so green, bounded sky blue
Handcrafted, silver-smithed, poly-caste
Pricey, cheap; grand and small
You’ll find them all
Overshadowing and being shadowed
Countless-coloured with rainbow flair
Mingling are both kitsch an’ sublime

Statuette angels bless legendary stares
Holding up the Virgin’s smile
Garnishing the green gridlock
With many a great Catholic garland
She’s a gorgeous holy hillock
She’s the Hill of Crosses

Once atop her uphill crown
Such music salutes your cheated ears
Eerie while yet beauty-full
Chinking chains endlessly rhyme
Flowing right down from your feet
All her treasures at your leisure
Mind him not who broke your heart
Loneliness left right your doors
All these crosses make so sure
Once upon a time ago
On Golgotha’s mercy hill
Your peace was bought priced so high
So that once upon this height
Falling’s next to impossible
On this virtuous Hill o’ Crosses

When you do come down the hill
And she asks, the snow-haired nun
Nay, say not that you planted none
Even if you never did so
In your heart of hearts you know
O what great ingrate you’ll be
Coming all the way still loving hate
Take her hand and kiss it dear
She’ll then tell all about her
Of all her bloody uprisings
And of the Soviet purging too
Her hinglish flow somewhat slow

Your bus will leave yet without you
‘Bet you’d still wish never to move
Yet you’ll exit her shores at last
Her memory apprised in your soul
Her crosses firmly ‘stablished there
Upon the picturesque knoll in heart
Though you never did lodge one
Upon her evergreen freedom soil

Just like scores the resolute guest
Who have once come sightseeing
Their yield-less heads discerning-less
Though tens hail from worlds so high
So loveless unenthused’s their hike
Till they meet the snow-haired nun
Down below the Hill o’ Crosses

Beaming with patriotic pride
Sits her cottage at her feet
Her love-tale sets sail betide
Till you’re through her pure black tea
And the plunge down history lane
Scenery and mastery married
Lo, the Cross-hill sure makes sense
What mighty smeltered cross you’ll lay
‘Twixt the cluttered ranks so dense
Budding up the Lithuanian Hill
O Siauliai’s cultured Cross-hill
That now besets my heart so

© Kwame Otu Sakyi

WHERE ARE YOU?

2008-05-30T12:42:00.006Z

Toward evening they heard the Lord God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees.
The Lord God called to Adam, "Where are you?"
(Genesis 3 vs. 8 & 9)

Neighbours, here we are again this week with a little something, something to ponder over – just so that we could stay in the know while on the go. Anyway, I trust you’ve had a good week or at least it’s been worth your try. Bless God anyhow!

Now, regrettably, I’ve in recent times not been on such good terms with a dear one. The thing is I committed a blunder and just did not turn myself in soon enough to admit my fault. Though I eventually owned up and duly expressed my regret, it turns out that the more than momentary lapse in the time it took me to accept my error rubbed the shine off the apology. The moral of the story? Go find the meaning and the value of the expression ‘nuances’ and do that NOW – gosh, Dr. Mensa Otabil was right!

Fact is, as much as I wouldn’t want to bore you with my problems, this incident has given me a birds-eye vision or rather an insider’s view into what it means to accept a wrongdoing, the urgency with which it must be done when it must be done or then the consequence of our nonconformist attitude. I’m quite certain that a good number of my readers are familiar with the events that precede the fall of Adam (and Eve). In any case, Genesis chapter 3 is where it all happens. Moreso I carefully chose my opening passage because therein lies a question that clearly proves to possess the marvel that should make wise the simple.

Could you, my dear reader, or can you think of anyone else who should have known the whereabouts of Papa Adam (and Mama Eva) any better than the Lord God who Himself embodies omnipresence and Only-wiseness? Did God indeed consider what degree of disrepute He stood to risk in the sight of all of His creation when He ventured as far as letting out the blunt question: WHERE ARE YOU?!!! Could God really not tell where Adam was? The question has been knocking against the side of my head all the while as I contemplate what I should put out here for you my dear readers.

See, there was Papa Adam, his condition was that he had committed a wrong-doing and was daring a swerve past Omnipresence. Buddy, you are with a conscience too, so I’m sure you won’t deny how ill at ease it feels sometimes owning up to your mistakes. Many of us would rather die than admit a fault. I’ve known that feeling on countless occasions…there’s a specific one I’ll let you know about just when I get to rounding up this post. But really in Adam’s ashamed state what he ought to have done was to find his way back into God’s loving arms in search of His pardon. For his action of hiding himself away from God, you and I have the result of broken fellowship with the God who fashioned us according to His own likeness and in His selfsame image. The very reason why ourkind has so needed the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

When alas God demanded “where are you?” He did so because the umbilical cord of sweet fellowship that hitherto existed between Himself and mankind had been severed and a hurting God clearly wanted Adam to realize the implication of what he had done and what was to come in the aftermath.

This is it! Anytime it feels like keeping your distance because of shame or pride when you err whether against God, your fellow man, or yourself please take note that that is the right time to approach the offended party so you could patch up and settle your differences. For in that brief moment where you are in denial, holding your pride up as though it were the FIFA World Cup trophy you just coveted, you are well on your way to digging the pit where you shall soon bury the relationship that is between you and the other party.

Here seems a good spot to drop the story I promised. A young lad once lied to an elderly woman and her husband during an open, well meaning conversation and walked off unperturbed. Well, that very night the Lord dealt with him and before he knew it he was lying prostrate in tears begging God for forgiveness. While at it, the Holy Spirit said to him “Son, I forgive you…but go back and apologize to them.” That shy boy! He penned down his words of apology and dropped it at their residence in their absence. To his delight his plea was accepted and a deeper fellowship is the result there is as of now. Well, that young lad was I and how much I love, admire and thank this experienced couple today!

So where are you? Where can you be found in this thicket of relationships? Are you enjoying a refreshing fellowship in an atmosphere of good neighbourliness? How about the babe (guy) you swore heaven and earth you loved just the other day but now hold in disregard because she (he) broke your eleventh commandment? Think about it! Ciao!!!

NB: Buddies, buddies…please, I need the comments coming in and your votes on the poll which is reviewed each week.… Hey, Selorm what do you think of this one? Is it still way up in the sky?

HELLO, I'M BACK!!!

2008-05-23T12:45:00.002Z

Hello there bloggers and all well wishers. It's been such a long while since any activity went on here...guess you missed me. We missed you all too. But hey...no more of the sorries, nor apologies...from henceforth each week there'll be something new for all our readers. But see, you must make us this promise: that you'll participate fully in all polls and also drop a comment on any of the post every now and again. You know we so much appreciate your comments; such feedback helps shape the future of this blog and of course, affords us the opportunity to bring you more wirte-ups worth your read. (Oh, I don't intend letting you know we plan on using this medium to invite all publishing outlets who want to make any use of our services)

Well, Pals enjoy the new season of Christo-Kwame Coalition...hope you keep in touch every step of the way!!! Once again, Akwaaba (Welcome)!!!!!

AS YOU ARE...

2008-05-23T12:34:00.002Z

A casual wander down the alley of Ecclesiastes, should soon bring you to the curious tree on Avenue Three; yes you know it,…the very one of which, according to the famous Solomon Wise, had its first eight fruits with a tang that pretty much sets your teeth on edge. Forgotten already, well let me refresh your memory: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven…” he began to say of them… “a time to be born and a time to die…” he further typified. Now I’ll hold the thought right there.

Just over a fortnight ago, I witnessed one of the most dramatic events that has left such an acid impression on me in the longest while. By the time you are done speed-reading this through I trust I’d have given you such good reason to give yourself a ‘drop dead’ punch every morning to remind you of the rare opportunity of popping your eyes open to a living world that day. I’d have been the more glad though if I were the unfortunate one dishing you one hefty punch after another…ahhhhhhhhhhhhh what displeasure that would give me.

One fine lady once having walked down the aisle with glee did share solemn vows with the man of her dreams. Approximately a year on, this lovely young couple was ready to receive their first bebe…what could make them happier than to find their signature congealed alongside them that literally fulfill the timeless adamic mandate – don’t tell me you dunno know which one. Her glad gaze took in bebe’s fitted features briefly staying her stare into its tiny slited eyes; then her tired hands perhaps did take a swipe to caress the wet yet tender cheeks of the little wonder…at best, that was the last directed chore she ever performed. The very last.

May 10th 2008. Mid morning: her kill-joy motionless remains sumptuously reclined in a cosy casket right before a black clad, visibly shaken throng of sympathizers – much much more than did witness the wedding. Every other expression but smiling faces and starry eyes glared down upon the goner a last time more. Casket closed, tributes read; sermon heard, sirens blared; dust kissed dust and all was done. Amidst it all, this expression still lingers now…from a preacher’s lips it came: as you are so was I; as I am so shall you be!

I won’t scurry far…I shall say what I’ve gotta say now. Have you thought your life over lately, have you taken a really good look at the you who walks with your feet and talks with your mouth? Simply put: what are you becoming? Is the you of yesterday proud of the you that is today? Oh, and on the morrow’ shall the you that would have become then look back to you today and heave a sigh of relief or rather wear a fancy long face in disbelief; to wit: oh what wasted years! Whitherso you walk a fine line or meander down crooked, shadowy paths, you are your best judge. Hmmm…and the pithy part is that whichever trail you tow you are sure headed for a Refiner’s Fire.

No, I’m not cussing at you? Check it…I’ve been first to have ventured here. Friend, this is familiar ground, this is home. I’ve been beat down and still soaking wet from pondering over what I’m becoming…. Come to think of it, that’s why I’m poking at the keyboard at 2 am; when some sticky eye pine for some wanted slumber – could be pretty bad, see? Oh, have you checked the last time I posted a right-up…sorry, write-up on this blog, I needn’t say more. I’ve got to be here each week with something worth your read…that’s where I’m going buddy.

But really, if there is a time and a season for everything under the Sun then today is our time…now is your season to live The Dream! A basket – make that a cee – will no doubt find you on a certain day while you climb down the sixth floor. Oh yes, it will. You know, you’ve been born…and by time’s season so will you…. So why not sit up and live it now!!!! In the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ (the same one you know), the Spirit pens down something for seven churches – I’m a dozen-and-a-half of them – and I’m well lettered by what He asks of the fifth church: be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Don’t give me that look...you can go check it for yourself (Rev. 3 vs. 2).

I presume we don’t yet know when we’ll become like my sweet lady of blessed memory – and of course, of the opening paragraphs, - but we are today what she was (bless God!) and still have the things that are ours’ which remain and that may well be ready to die. Kwame just pick your sorry-self up, lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes, get some muscle on your browning, unadventurous teeth and get down enlarging the borders of your territory. That’s not a proposal, that’s a command!

Now how about those chunky daily punches, think I should still do you the honours. Talk to me!

MY VALENTINE LOVE LETTER

2007-09-17T15:23:00.000Z

I shared this thought on the faithwriters community website sometime back and had quite an appreciable reader response, so this week I thought to myself "why not share it with my friends on this blog" - yeah I admit it, the timing may be wrong but the relevance is not so seasonal is it? Love is indeed Eternal!

Anyway so have your bite of the cheesecake and don't forget to drop your comments afterwards. Have a swell week!

Hi Love,

Love is the cheapest commodity to come by on the shelf of the mall of life; it comes in all sizes, shapes and types and from manufacturers aplenty. All of those types have a price tag on each of them. The value you and I place on each of those types, determines the price we pay willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, for whatever type we go for - or better still find ourselves opting to bargain for.

Yet I am pleasantly amazed friend by one of those types of love... it is so simple and unassuming but so costly in terms of what goes into - or rather went into - its production; and yet can you believe it the price tag on that kind is labeled "FREE!!!". Yeah you saw that right, FREE!!!. This kind of love is called AGAPE...the God-kind of love...believe me if this kind of love were the foundation or the basis of all the other types, shapes, colours and sizes of love and of manufacturers aplenty, this haven called world we live in would have been a much much better place.

Jesus the true Son of the Living God is the ONLY source of this kind.... He willingly showed us the way to display that kind of love by Himself taking mine and your place (rightful place indeed) on the wooden cross of Calvary at NO expense whatsoever to any of us but at ALL cost to Him and the Father who so loved us inspite our ugly state of sinfulness.

When all say VALENTINE I choose to in spite all the other varieties of love shown on this day to FIRST beseech you and I to think of what great love One who is neither yours or mine blood brother or family relation by blood or otherwise ties whatsoever; or loved one by reason of the fact that I never once met him anywhere on the highway or street corner of LIFE and said "I LOVE YOU" to Him, but He of Himself chose to love me with an uncommon love, a love so true....

Dear Friend need I say more...just hold this thought true all through this day and make sure your neighbour next to you gets this message...I promise you IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES...FOREVER!!!

It starts right here... to 3:16 we scamper off to John the Apostle of Love!

My Love to You…Adios!!

Your One True Love,

Kwame

JUST DO IT – by Kwame Otu Sakyi

2007-08-27T13:01:00.000Z

You are either young or old. You can never be both at the same time, at least not in the thought of it. But whatever that may mean or be perceived to be naturally, it is nothing compared to your perception of yourself. One will say “I’m too old” and go to sleep on his dreams; another may also say “well, I’m too young for that” and shelf every vision to the morrow when he hopes to have grown a little older – just old enough. Well, both of them are so, so wrong! It’s not about being old or young; no, it’s got nothing to do with it at all! You see age is a just another number – often a single, double or three digit, considering how long we live on this side of the grave. It isn’t likely to find a thousand year olds, is it! In short, age is not a factor at all!Now let’s consider what scripture says about this issue of age, vision and/or dreams and their fulfillment. Joel 2:28 gives us a beautiful insight that will most definitely change the way you spend the rest of your life – young or old. Oh I’m so excited just at the thought of it!

Here we go:“And IT SHALL COME TO PASS afterward that I WILL POUROUT MY SPIRIT on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS, Your YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS.”And it shall come to pass! Praise God, IT SHALL COME TO PASS! What is IT, what do you see as IT and what does IT mean to you? Whatever IT is to you…hear the Living Word of God “IT SHALL COME TO PASS” Yes, it makes no difference your age; watch out for the IT you’ve been waiting for and IT SHALL COME TO PASS. IT will soon be a thing of the past, a memorial, an accomplishment and fulfilled desire, Yes, IT SHALL COME TO PASS! My, I sense the moving of the Holy Ghost as you say those words to yourself right now IT SHALL COME TO PASS!

Now let’s get through with this real quick. Sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, fellow participators of like precious faith in this righteousness we share in Christ Jesus; we all dream don’t we, we all have some vision one way or the other. We have something on the inside of us, something in mind to accomplish; some desire to fulfill, don’t we? That is splendid! And I guess you’re looking forward to its fruition. Now that sounds like a dumb rhetoric, isn’t it? Well, have you received the Holy Ghost to indwell you? I’m not talking to you “unborn-agains” No-no I should be dumb to be asking you such a question. I’m not talking to you at all, you can’t have received Him! (But you can read on alright)IF you’ve not confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that GOD has raised Him from the dead you are NOT saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9,10) So you don’t know what I’m talking about. But well, Believe, and you’re in!

On the other hand I’m talking to you, yes you the born of God folks. I’m talking to you that have received the Word of Life with grace, having mixed it with faith and is supernaturally linked to the blessing of Abraham. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed! You know Paul got to the believers in Ephesus and asked them this same question, “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” With confused faces they said “what is that, we don’t even know there is one going by the name Holy Ghost” “what baptism did you receive then?” Paul inquired, “The baptism of John” they hastened to say. “Uh-uh that was the baptism of repentance, there is a greater baptism of which John himself subscribed to. This other baptism brings into your spirit the manifest glorious presence of God! It literally fires you up for a godly life that is absolutely fulfilling! This baptism is the Baptism of the Holy Ghost; the divine outpouring of God, that makes a natural man a superman. It transforms weakness to strength, sickness to health, confusion to certainty, death to life (Romans 8:11). Paul probably did all that explanation, laid hands of them as a means of transmission and whoops, that was it, they were filled with the blessed influence of God (Read Acts 19:1-5); anointed to go on and fulfill their God-given dreams, goals and aspirations, yes, and mighty signs followed them. Praise God!

I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH
What is all this I’m babbling about? The first place to start up your dream or vision inspite your age is the HOLY GHOST! No, I’m not overstating the matter. Infact, it can not be said any better. He is the divine influence for accomplishment! “That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” Notice this; he didn’t say “that I will pour OUT OF my Spirit…” Uh-uh, that will have been different. He says rather (this is God speaking through Joel His mouthpiece) I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT; in other words, I WILL POUR MYSELF ON ALL FLESH! Now note this, because Acts 2 gives us an account of how Joel’ prophesy CAME TO PASS, God is now saying: “I HAVE POURED OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH” My, get that into your spirit! You have GOD indwelling you. So what are you waiting for! If you’re waiting for some power to come and shake you up and leave goosebumps all over you, sorry but you are in error. He (the Holy Ghost) is not coming, he has come! In fact He is here. ONLY BELIEVE!

Now don’t waste anymore time because your dreams and aspirations are so vital to the Kingdom of God and to its influence on society that IT MUST COME TO PASS! And if you’re going to get it done, you need this precious Divine Presence of the Living Christ. He is your being, He is your becoming! You see, He is here just for you; He is here just to see YOU come through the way, fulfilling the purpose of God for your life and through your life! ASK HIM IN NOW! Yes, because all I’m saying will benefit you nothing if you don’t have Him. Oh it may excite you, it may even edify you but, sorry to say, it will be short-lived. He is indeed your being, your becoming. With Him, you go on and on. “Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit” saith the Lord God of Hosts.

DREAMS AND VISIONS
After he comes in what then? Well, having received Him you are ready to see the fulfillment of your dreams and/or visions. Now what are dreams? What are visions? We have a two-sense meaning of both words. The first is the natural or usual means of dreams and visions that we receive or that pass through our minds whiles we are asleep or in a trance as Peter received in Acts 10:9-10 (that is, as in the case of visions.) This way the dreams and visions pass through the subconscious and we receive it in lifelike detail as though we were living it in real life. An example of a dream is recorded in (Genesis 37:5-9) i.e. to Joseph. We also have open visions as Daniel received in the book of Daniel 10; in this case Daniel was not asleep neither had he fallen into a trance. Dreams and visions have three sources namely: God, You, and Satan. Well, let’s leave it here.

The other side of both words has to do with having a goal or target that you aim at reaching. You could picture it in your minds eye, or may even have it written down (the better choice); whichever way it goes it must be a clearly defined target that you desire to reach. A vision or dream is the driving force behind decisions that you take and the resulting action that follows. In the business world, all companies or organizations irrespective of size or capital backdrop, have a vision which directs their long and short term goals they want to achieve. In the same manner all Homo sapiens as long as you are alive ought to have an aim, a dream, a vision; something you want to get done at all cost within a specified time frame or even timeless (not bound by time).

In fact every person saved or unsaved, has a purpose divinely assigned to him by the virtue of the fact that he/she has been born of a woman into this human race. More especially every believer has a God-given assignment to fulfill that will benefit the kingdom and society at large and he cannot run away from it, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Romans 11:29) - another version renders it "...irrevocable." Now in that purpose is your vision or dream: it is the reality before YOUR eyes that YOU desire to bring to fruition. And in this your age almost counts for nothing! It should not be a barrier at all. I’ll tell you why in a moment, but let’s check out what Joel says of dreams and visions young or old.

THE OLD TO DREAMS, VISIONS TO THE YOUNG
“Your OLD MEN shall DREAM dreams” He didn’t say your old men shall hung around waiting to die or to put it mildly, as a result of advancement in age do little dreaming! He didn’t even mean they shall sleep and have dreams, uh-uh, He implies they shall envision things that they shall go on to accomplish. God means despite a man’s advancement in age, having received the Holy Ghost, he shall be imbued with divine ability to make a significant impact. (Acts 1:8) Who says you are too old!

Consider Abraham: 90 years of age and a wife who is about 80 and barren receiving a word from God “you shall have a son”; Ha-ha-haa, Sarah laughed it off in the tent while the visitors – apparently messengers of God - were still around. How can this be, she might have thought, they certainly are strangers or even probably out of their minds; have they come to mock me? Scripture doesn’t say she said so but she just might have thought it! But just hold on right there, TEN years after that, the WORD CAME TO PASS. Praise God!

Now you probably may be asking what the “trump-card” was within those TEN incubation years.“(Abraham) who, contrary to hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken… And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead…and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform.” (Romans 4:18-21)
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude – innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” (Hebrews 11:11,12)

Now let’s reconcile the key words to see the access code to their miracle inspite their age.
IF you BELIEVE WHAT IS SPOKEN (God’s purpose defining your vision) and do not WAVER, but are STRENGTHENED IN FAITH, you will BEAR what is CONCEIVED in you being fully convinced that HE IS ABLE TO PERFORM. That is the key!
That is the way up – young or old! They received strength; from who, the Holy Ghost and so is He upon you!

Look at Old Simeon of Jerusalem: all about him were folks who might have been saying “when will you give up the ghost and leave us in peace…you these ol’ devoutees” But guess what, all those years he was ‘waiting’ for the promise of God to him (the LORD’S Christ), the vision that had become the driving force in his life inspite his gray and frail body; and “…the Holy Ghost was upon him….” Praise God! Then one fine day IT CAME TO PASS:
“So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord let your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:27-30) Glory to God! He saw it! His reason for staying alive inspite his old age CAME TO PASS! So will yours in Jesus Name!

That’s not all! There was another of great age by name Anna – a prophetess. She had been once married only seven years then her husband was gone, he was dead. But she didn’t stop living, no, she lived right on unlike many will do today. 84 years old and she was still alive fulfilling the duties of her call; active enough to see and give thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him (Jesus Christ) to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem on that very day Simeon saw the baby Jesus. (Luke 2:36-38)“Her anointed ministry during later years of life holds forth a promise for older women. There is always ministry awaiting the sensitive, obedient, and pure – ministry that can influence and shape the rising generation.” [Credit: Spirit Filled Life Bible; New KJV; Kingdom Dynamics of page 1512]

What about us young folks, well, the glory of the youth is their strength! We have a greater responsibility; a great opportunity to lift our generation on its feet for Christ. But already this generation has been branded as ‘the dark’ as in ‘dark ages.’ Well, I don’t know about that, there is one thing I know for sure though, “YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS” Yes, the moral buildup may be dwindling, godlessness and all are skyrocketing, but you see we’re not supposed to be moved – at least not in fright, because our Lord prophesied it; these are signs of the end times according to Matthew 25. But praise God, “this gospel of the kingdom WILL BE PREACHED in all the world as a WITNESS to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (vs. 14)

Moreover, “of the INCREASE of His government and peace there WILL BE NO END…” (Isaiah 9:7). Yes, iniquity shall abound and the love of many will grow cold, and for that very reason is the Spirit of God upon us; and the YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS to help preserve and maintain and redirect the ‘unseeing’ to see. This gospel shall go on anyhow! Don’t throw that vision away because they said you’re too young to carry it.

A young Israeli virgin by name Mary received an angel’s message (indeed God’s own message) of bringing forth to the world the Lord Jesus, she asked “how can it be…” and praise be to God the angel replied “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the highest will overshadow you;”That is the catch; the Holy Spirit is the source of the power to do. Believe in God as you have received His Spirit and just go ahead and do what you’re called to do.
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.” (Acts 10:38)
“Well that was Jesus not me” I can hear some say. Well,“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also GIVE LIFE to your mortal bodies, through HIS SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN YOU.” (Romans 8:11)
But I don’t have power as he does? Ha-ha,“But YOU shall receive power as the Holy Spirit is come upon you…” (Acts1:8)

Do you want more proof? “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US (YOU).” (Ephesians 3:20)
Just one more, just in case you play the scripture card: ‘by the mouth of two or THREE witnesses every word shall be established.’“…because as HE is, so are WE (YOU) IN THIS WORLD.” (1 John 4:17). There you go with your three witnesses: Luke, who wrote Acts, Paul and John.

Go ahead and do the good works you ought to be doing. And when you’re done like John leaped while still in the womb of Elizabeth at the sight of Mary the whole world and posterity yet unborn will leap at the fruition of your dreams and visions saying “…blessed is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke 1:43) As for your critics, those who keep using your "age" as a yardstick to measure your “reach” answer them with these,“I am of God and have overcome, because greater is He that is in ME than he who is in the World” (1 John 4:4 paraphrased) The purposes of God still stand, young or old, His divine power has given to you all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the Knowledge of Him that called you by glory and virtue(1 Peter 1:3). JUST DO IT!!

GO FOR IT!

2007-08-27T12:58:00.000Z

Life, I have discovered, is all about choices. A choice to make it or to mess it all up! And as long as time and season remains, I daresay, choices will never pass away! What then remains standing between those two points of choice – success or failure – is unsurprisingly YOU; and all YOU need to do is to decide to make it.I’m sure this is clear to you by now if you’ve ever had the desire to be successful at anything praise-worthy. But what I think we all often do relegate to the rear is the fact that the God who chose us and followed through to call us unto Himself more than desires to make us not only successful but more-so be SIGNIFICANT to our generation. Can you imagine a manufacturer wanting his product to fail on the market! I’ll leave you to your thoughts… but really, if your quest for success is not being opposed by your Maker, the only thing that remains then is, as has always been, your choice, your resolve to make it happen! Make that choice here and now!NOTHING can stop you! They that are for you far outnumber they that are against you; and GREATER IS HE that is in you than he that is in the world! Maintain that same stance at all times; be unflinching even in the face of adversity. In fact adversities or obstacles, I say, is only a confirmation that you are a bundle of success going somewhere to happen and they come to test the intensity of your resolve to get there! God uses them to stabilize and build you up for that great role you will be playing soon in the lives of the millions of people out there starting right where you are now.You are just unstoppable; IT’S ALL YOURS, GO FOR IT!