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We've seen multiple cases in the Bible we just couldn't help but wonder what was truly going on, and wonder at the reasons Jesus did some of the things he did. One such case is the example of Jesus cursing the fig tree. Jesus and a Fruitless Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14 - Passion Translation) 12 The next day, as he left Bethany, Jesus was feeling hungry.  13 He noticed a leafy fig tree in the distance, so he walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—only leaves (for it wasn’t yet the season for bearing figs).   14 Jesus spoke to the fig tree, saying, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” And the disciples overheard him. Why The Curse? This verse, along quite a few others, has always left me wondering. Why would Jesus curse the fig tree that wasn't ripe, and verse 13 even tells us that it wasn't the time yet for figs. Is this the classic case of a hungry man is an angry man, or is there a lesson embedded within? Lessons of Faith ...

THE GOLDEN RULE   The Golden Rule is one of the most well-known moral teachings of Christ. It encapsulates how people should treat others. It says: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31).  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...” Sometimes, we find ourselves holding on to this ideal well after people have abused that notion, and made a complete mockery of what we believe in.  We find ourselves holding onto the Word of God, and treating people better than they deserve, simply because we hold ourselves in high esteem, and treat people exactly how we want to be treated, yet there are times we get the complete opposite of what we invest in.  Don't you wonder what the right thing to do is? Should we keep on treating these kinds of people like we want to be treated, or do we treat them exactly as they treat us?  Should we keep on keeping the peace, or should we go to war? Should we detach for a while, or should we...

We've all had a chance to read the story of the prodigal son. If you haven't, you should give it a read. Someone once called the parable the parable of the loose-lipped servant or something along those lines. But more than being a parable of the lost son, it is a mirror that shows what kind of person we are in our daily lives.  The parable of the prodigal son reveals to us different categories of people in the world. It begs the question. what kind of person are you?  1. The All-loving and All-forgiving Father   The perfect figure of love and compassion beyond the ordinary. This Father's love extended beyond the love of his sons, this love was evident in the treatment of his servants, so much that the son was willing to return to his father as a servant even if he had lost his place as a son.  Would people return to us if they lost our love or trust? Imagine his father had matreated his servants, he might have lost a son forever. What kind of person are you?  ...

Mary's husband, Joseph, wasn't touched on much again in Scriptures after the birth and infancy of Christ, but I cannot help but wonder that we need more men (and women) like Joseph.  The Bible records Joseph as a just man [Greek - dikaios (δίκαιος)]:This is the same moral category used for figures like Noah, Abraham and Job.  It signifies a covenant-faithful man. This is indeed higher praise than the English translation provides.  WHAT DID HE DO WHEN HE FOUND THAT MARY WAS PREGNANT?   Matthew 1:18–19 says that before they came together, Mary was found to be with child. Joseph, being described as “just” (righteous), did not want to expose her to public disgrace, so he decided to “put her away quietly.”   1. He chose to put her away (which was his right to do).  2. He chose to do it quietly (of which he had no obligation to).  He chose love, and doing the right thing even in the face of apparent betrayal. Most of us would take the first option, ...

There were high hopes for the City Boy Some protested against his kingdom come Some wanted to to see how it played out Well it has, and we all want him out. There's been fire on the mountain for quite awhile We're not saying it just began now  I reserve the worst of my ire  For those who stir the chaos with silent hands  Silent hands who gift loud guns  To massacre humans along religious divide  Our eyes are covered in blood (they bleed!) Our skin too numb to utter a word  Buhari was the Silent One City Boy the Avoidant One The Flying Savant All of whose promises came to nought I wish I was a dragon and could spit out fire  To burn up rocks at the sound of my voice  And at the feel of my breath  To put an end to every threat  Of course, there are problems with every man  Every rule, every country, every administration  But we've seen men make who make it work  In few short years achieved a lot There is a differ...

Spoke to my mother About life, and my dissatisfactions. She looked to me and smiled, She said, son, be grateful. She recounted some stories, How some have it less glorious.  If I can wish for me, Indeed, I can be more grateful.

I have been fishing hard by the river  Where I was washed and prepped for ‘ever I have caught some fish here and there  But, Lord, where do I cast my net? Lord, I don't mean to be ungrateful  I'm a half full kind of person  But lately I feel half of empty Lord, where do I catch my fish? Is it on the path where I am? Or should I cast out to the deep end? Should I let go of loyalty? But, Lord, on you do I depend. We see the miracle of five loaves and two fish  Of the casting of net by the river Of the coin in the mouth of fish O, Lord, I'm not an unbeliever  I have been fishing hard by the river  Where I was washed and prepped for ‘ever I have caught some fish here and there  O, Lord, where do I cast my net?

If Jesus was a husband, If Jesus had a wife— Would we say marriage was difficult, Or would it be heaven on earth? All the warnings about marriage, All the quotes that give you pause. I've seen my fair share of them, Even the Bible gives you one! They say tolerance is key  To a lasting marriage, That love dies along the way, I say, what a tragedy of sorts... So I wonder to myself, If we had two people loving up like Christ, Living up like Christ, Would we still have the same challenge? For I couldn't help but think — If Jesus was a husband, If Jesus had a wife— Would we say marriage was difficult, Or would it be heaven on earth?

Reading the heading, it sure sounds counterproductive, an impossible paradox to accept. Why? Why consider God's failure in the equation? It is not in his nature, he doesn't, God doesn't fail. What God cannot do does not exist. True! Yet let us consider the fact that God may actually "fail us." You might have guessed already where this post is already going. If that is the case, I congratulate you. If you haven't, let us walk through it together to the end. There are stories abound of devout people who left the fold, who left the worship of God because he didn't answer their prayers. People who didn't understand the reason why God would let bad things happen to good people or people who couldn't wrap their heads around the fact that God didn't grant their request despite their diligent work in his service, and for this reason they are offended and may fall out of the faith. We will provide two simple examples to back up t...

When things get difficult and incomprehensible  When times are different, not like they used to It's tempting to lose sight and fidget But God is good beyond words  He provides for us beyond words Gives us comfort outside of this world  We are held in the palm of his hands His love for us unchanging  I've seen the good and the bad  Seen the beautiful and the ugly Amidst all of this, one thing remains That God is good beyond words..

In difficult times, we find strength  When we push back against excuses When we proudly or otherwise  Refuse to give excuses We find strength  God gives grace to push forward  When you find self at a crossroads  And tasks before you on hold  When you have tried but couldn't  And it seems not enough resources to complete your tasks When you want to ask permission to delay completion  When asking again doesn't sit well Let excuses die on your lips Try to forge ahead with the resources you have And come out with an even better outcome  So, don't give up in difficult moments  Could be God teaching you resilience  To forge ahead with what you have And come out with an even better result  Than if you had the complete tools...

They promised freedom from day one Way before the election was won  Renewed hope in the chosen one... Alas, in God we trust  An observer in all their madness  Hoping the best man wins Picked no sides in their contest  But unity should always come first  Been years we began running  The price of things haven't stopped running  Like an infant leaking diarrhoea  The supreme promises keep falling flat The previous man was a herdsman  Treated men like cattle and made life difficult  This one is a tycoon, he lifted all restrictions  Then made the masses pay for it— Through the nose, through the anus  This someone who promised citrus.. The silence of the lambs, the roar of the lion O, let the dogs out! Let them bark and keep barking  At this curious case that frankly  Springs up roses of violence in the land Brash and violent with all their prickly thorns  The chosen ones plunder the nation in turns  Ra...

Everything is good  Not everything is bad Each time I look back  I couldn't be more glad  With each passing step I see the need to connect  To stay in touch  Remain as one with the Source Things I tried out  They worked out for me Advised others the same Can't say it worked out the same Not to say I didn't face failure  Or had things go a different way Than planned. But looking back I couldn't be more proud I look around  And see the world around me  I ask about my counterparts  Where is your sense of adventure? Not to say they tried their way And it didn't work their way  Or that I was right  And they were wrong Maybe it's because I  Have age on my side  And time against me That I could afford to be Able to leave everything behind  And never my steps rewind  Everyone talks about the money  But to me, it was kind of funny How like I had no roots I couldn't not leave behind  But always I...

People losing their minds in a vicious cycle Is it a problem of being fenced in? But even some who explored and returned  Found themselves in a downward spiral Great children with great promise  Trapped in cycle of diminishing returns Took the road to the highest funway  Had their minds cracked into splinters  See young children once full of life  Become unwitting shadows of themselves  Hovering about like darkening clouds Their guardians freezing in the headlights  High on drugs, but low on goals Aiming at action, but aiming aimlessly  The decline puts a chill on your soul Life a story, value your prose... They said it's because the walls are fenced in That there's something out there doing the feeding  But one thing is certain, God we are needing  Say no to drugs.

Like Humpty Dumpty in a house of cards Your house fell down like the walls of Jericho [And it's hard to pick up the spare parts] Every spring of idea became a dying plant (God forbid!) Something of colour ends up in monochrome  Look before you leap, are words of wisdom But what if faith is leaping before you look? Or is faith leaping before you look? And where then does that place our reasoning? Is it still faith if it breaks like a broom? And what if this leap doesn't pay as due? Should our faith in God make everything (exactly) possible? However, base your plans on something solid Not something that could go up in smoke Do not be too hasty to strike gold Neither delay too long a decisive blow  Be confident in your ability to win the race But don't jump the gun and think it's going to be okay (it's not!) Have faith in God, believe he can do all things But don't back yourself into a corner and put your God to test... Like refusing to serve in a tennis game Then ...

The old man trusts his body   to a piece of metal or wood Not as his god or anything  But as a prop to hold him up The injured man does the same. Alas, love is a walking stick  Sturdy, reliable With you every step of the way Unrelenting, every night and day Sometimes, the stick may break And the rider is thrown  Whose fault is that,  Is it the stick?  Even if it were, a man gets another one And the journey resumes again.  Be as it may, whether strong or unreliable It's not about the form, but the matter. Hear the spirit of the guide, The essence of the walking stick  Is to be with you, to support you; Love is the walking stick of life, To be with you every step of the way... 04/01/24

Long way from home,  My first time alone. Things we joked about in the past Became a reality pretty fast.  Definitely not the way we planned,  Not at all, not even close!  We thank the Lord for growth,  But a bit, I miss the homeland.  The air is dry and filled with dust,  The weather itself is cold to touch,  The wind is rattling my windows,  The roof is creaking like goalposts.  It's noisy on the outside, The mill grinding out its content; The sound of vehicles on the freeway,  Children having themselves a grand day..  It's quiet on the inside,  Just as I like.  The holidays around the corner,  To cool down the days we suffered.  Harmattan and winter, Opposites alike,  Harmattan and winter, Christmas is near.  The months went by pretty fast,  But still quite a ways to go: Couldn't leave home fast enough,  Adventures called for me to go.  Harmattan and winter, I'm not alone,  H...

Wanted to get angry But I remember God had been there I understood the feeling  of smashing things or smashing people It came into my heart Isn't it right to give God thanks?  For good and bad, to give God thanks?  Even to thank him that the bad was good Or will be good?  To glorify him in the situation  And let him take the glory? I'll set my heart at ease For my God to take the glory What other option is there?  I'm scared of the alternative  So mad I can't consider it But I'll give my God the praise,  I'll give him the glory And thank him like he's already done it That he's already done it For he's already done it Amen.

You'll find time to lose yourself in love  Put the happiness of others above your own  Find joy in the things that make them happy  Sometimes to the loss of your own— Baby, love yourself.  You've seen how wicked the world can be How cold it gets out there  How quickly people can turn on you For reasons you can't even think— Baby, love yourself.  You're in love with how they love you,  You're blind to how amazing  How wonderful a creature you are But you surrender only to what they say you are— Baby, love yourself.  You're happy and you can't help it,  You're sad and you don't know why You feel like the best thing in the world, Then you mess up again big time— Baby love yourself.  Unconditionally and unashamedly,  Shower no apologies unreservedly,  Show the world how much you care,  But really you don't even have to care That Baby, you love yourself.  When you feel rejected  When no one has your back When you...

Happy birthday big man. Like the sun, moon and stars, you'll always shine, irrespective of time. Like water, your relevance will increase daily. Like oxygen, your presence will always indicate sign of life. You are my blood indeed. Cheers to your year of beautiful testimonies🥂