The Scandal of Grace

Sitting here on my bed, I still feel the presence of Jesus so intense that I said to Him, “how do I express how I feel right now?” The thoughts are overwhelming and His love is palpable. A lot of things happened today, but the most of it is that I saw Jesus clearer and now love Him more.

In the evening, I set out for some of my friends’ house for a hangout, not knowing what to expect. I like to consider myself as a spiritual person, and I am proud of it, but I don’t feel the same way about being referred to as “religious.” So, the main thing for me tonight was that nothing was religious. Everything was simple, fulfilling and pleasurable. At the house, Yinka Karis and I began to watch Pastor Chris Online clips and the presence of Jesus was so strong. We laughed and almost fell out under the power; boy, were we DRUNK in the Spirit.

Shortly after that, we heard Pastor Joseph Prince was ministering LIVE from Lakewood Church, and we decided to watch. WOW!!! It was a gathering of kings, and I believe heaven watched intently with excitement. I STRONGLY believe Jesus couldn’t contain Himself anymore; He DANCED! Boy, did JESUS dance tonight, while the devil cringed in fear and shame. As we watched, we celebrated Jesus, and we celebrated Him with so much joy. One of the highlights of Pastor Prince's message for me was when He talked about how Jesus decided to go hangout with Zaccheus, the tax collector, and the religious folk immediately took offence against Him. Pastor Prince said it was the beginning of “the scandal of grace.” Those words caught my attention, causing me to make up my mind to be a proud bearer of Christ’s grace message. I hope to write a book with that title, the Scandal of Grace, sometime in the future; it’ll be lovely.

Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed a great time with the people I call “friends.” I tend to pay a lot of attention to people’s eyes, and tonight all I saw was a lot of love being communicated - so much love it was impossible for Jesus to have been absent.  In everything we did, you could tell that Jesus was there. Now, I’m home, full of exuberant joy. I never stop being impressed by Jesus’ sacrifice for me. He bore it all. Now, all I have to do is look into His eyes and become more like Him as I do so. I’m not sure how to best communicate it, but I am convinced that HE LOVES ME!

P.S: Suggest a song for this post, please. Thanks!

"Woman, I Charge You, Give Your Heart to Christ" :: A Vision - 10/29/2011

It looked like the room I now type this note from. I got up from my bed with the sound of people coming up the stairs. I wondered who they were (mind you, I thought it was real life). Two gentlemen walked in with kids and a caterpillar (yes, the animal, as a pet, crawling in with them). They said construction was going on at their place and they needed somewhere to cook. I agreed reluctantly for them to come in. They got excited and started bringing out the food. "Jesus, Lord have mercy," I thought, when food of different types started showing. I ate and ate and ate rounds of it. I just couldn't have enough. Before long, I saw people trickling into the house, in tens, then looking like hundreds, but there was SPACE I never knew of before. 

Unknown to me, those men had planned an outreach - an opportunity to preach to people - after feeding them. I got excited about that too. Then, I started working with them. I'll skip the details, but by the time the merriment was over, those men did not minister. It was our responsibility. Yinka Karis ministered first. Some believed and some did not. He wasn't discouraged (none of us was), because the ones that didn't believe had left. We were now with those who believed but needed more teaching.

Yinka called on Chukwuemeka Obiaka to minister to the rest of the people that we had left with us. Yinka made sure to make it clear to "Obi" in a stern manner that "all these ones have to give their hearts to Christ." Then, Obi started to minister (strong and powerful) and right when we were confessing our salvation, we heard the voice of a rather short lady demanding that everyone moved out of the field. So, both we and the people we were ministering to, began to run in a certain direction. It seemed like the short lady had some clout, like she was a teacher we feared. It looked like she felt insulted that she had been trying to get our attention but everyone was listening to "a small boy" (referring to Obi) and ignoring her.

In stead of running with everyone, I ran toward her and began to explain. I said, "We were not listening to a small boy, ma'am. We were listening to Jesus. It was Him standing there, talking through that young man." With deeper conviction I said "He [Jesus] could have won many to Him tonight, but you stopped Him (at this point, almost in tears)." Her colleagues (strict women of power like herself) spoke harshly, encouraging her that she made the right decision to protect her reputation by dispersing the gathering, even though at this point, I was sure she was questioning her reasoning.

"Woman, I charge you, give your heart to Christ," I said pleafully. By now, I could see tears in her eyes. Then, I went on to say "I assure you He [Jesus] is real, and one day you will stand before Him and your whole body will shiver; everything in you will respond to Him and you will have to give account of what you have done in your body." Her colleagues tried to dissuade her, but I could tell that she knew what was at stake. It was simply now a choice between her ego and the reality. 

Next, I felt a call - a need to go and join the believers where they were, so I left her. It was a dining room - a huge one. We all wore purple apparel, everyone with a different face and name. The food was DELICIOUS; in fact, it looked like it was alive because it did move. It was like nothing I was aware of existed on earth. Every bite was satisfaction. I declared proudly to my comrades in Christ that I had made an attempt to win the woman over, and now I only hope that my words would win her. The room we were in was like a sort of waiting area before we went to the real place, but it was gorgeous in there.

We began to share the reasons why each of us had believed. One of the guys in the room (I got the impression that I didn't "like" him before then, but now, I loved him) talked about how he believed because of the food. He said he loved food in general, so when he heard about this one, he wanted to try it out. It was at that time that I noticed my food was extremely delicious and ALIVE. 

** JESUS is REAL. If you know Him, wear Him proudly. He died for everyone, and He is coming some day very soon. Believe me, He's worth it ALL. **

NIGERIA

TY Bello...another Nigerian artist committed to the growth of the nation.

Telling people about Nigeria remains the hardest thing to do for both our natives and tourists, simply because we just never know what part of the story to tell. Calling one faction to memory and neglecting the other would translate into another nation’s story – not ours. The truth is that we have such a fair share of the best of both worlds. Nigeria is an intrinsic juxtaposition of vigor and debilitation, the glamorous and the grotesque.

That look in the eyes of the Nigerian that only tells you beautiful stories when asked about his country is simply an expression of hope, a deliberate and beautiful denial of what is, an attempt at erasing a confusing history. That young man or woman just wants you to journey with them into the good memories, the ones they hold sacred, the ones strong enough to overshadow the wrongs.

Still, the look in the eyes of the other Nigerian that only talks about horrendous acts of corruption and discouraging spurs of violence is not one of disdain towards flag and country but an expression of frustration, having considered so much of our worse half. He or she only desires to paint you a picture of what they consider the truth, the memories that continue to tear deep into the scars of yesterday, forbidding them to heal.

Truth be told, Nigeria is beautiful, and Nigerians are some of the most hospitable and joyous people on earth; it is TRUE. And, truth also be told, Nigeria could be the ugliest place and some of its people most brutal; it is TRUE. Pardon us; we’re just never sure of what stories to tell. We have tales of extended families that love with all their hearts, stories of abundance and joy, yet we have the other stories.

I remember my mother falling into a pit and getting injured in the process of going after debtors in order to appropriate her business’ worth into the education and well-being of her kids, but I also remember having more than I ever needed or wanted as the years went by. What story would I rather tell you? We have stories of senseless riots (religious or tribalistic) – Biafra and the likes – yet we have stories of a strong sense of unity (Nigeria ’99 FIFA Soccer Competition comes to mind).

Whichever way, be glad to hear any side of the story. When you hear the good, appreciate the reality of much that still needs to be done to make it closer to a 100 percent grace, and when you hear the grassy dirty narratives, appreciate the breath-taking beauty of which you were not told. I personally prefer to tell the better stories more, yet I understand that someone else has to tell the other side. Whichever one you choose, there’s hope; I AM THAT HOPE!

Play the video above and read the post one more time as you listen; the heart of the message may be communicated better.

A Mother is a Priceless Jewel

A Priceless Jewel!

As I thought about the many things that people said about their mothers in church today, the sum of it all was expressed in the words of a brother that said “mothers are the epitome of selfless service.” As my Pastor began to explain, none of us could do anything by ourselves as children. We were invariably helpless; we had to be fed, clothed and carried. If those three chores were the only reasonable things a mother did for her child, she is still worth the honor.

Most people have more than one mother, in the sense of the saying “it takes a village to raise a child.” So, I am very appreciative of all my spiritual mothers and my physical mother (who happens to be very spiritual in her dealings too). There is an instinct within mothers that preserves, protects and nourishes. My mother has sacrificed more than I can possibly remember or count. She has loved and continues to love like nobody else can. As imperfect as she may be, her beauty grew ever so strong with every sacrifice that she made for me.

One most remarkable thing I learned today is that mothers deserve honor whether or not their actions were the best. But, if you have (or had) a mother  who demonstrated her love toward you, you are the better for it and should be very appreciate her. I also learned that reaching my highest potential in life depended greatly on the honor I accrue to my parents and those in authority over me. So, once again, many thanks to my mothers!

To wrap it up, I think it is most remarkable that God is referred to as El-Shaddai, the Strong and Breasted One. He amazes me all the time. He can protect you like a Father would and turn around to nourish and love you like only a Mother would. If you never knew your mother or she has passed, appreciate her and keep her in your heart in whichever way you can, but remember always that you have a father and a MOTHER in God.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

-- @stburnish

P.S: I just think the song below speaks a lot concerning the HolySpirit (my first mother) and my other mothers (especially Ye ‘Lubusi – my mother).

In Him

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.” [Acts 17:28]

Please, accept my sincere apologies for being away for so long; I am sure you forgive. From here on, I would like to emphasize the importance of your comments; we need to bless one another. Let it be a mutual improvement of everyone that reads. Share something that’ll bless the writer and other readers as well. God bless you as you do.

While I thought about where to start, it occurred to me that I should start where it ‘started,’ that is where I began thinking about the subject of this post. A short while ago, while reading Rhapsody of Realities, I came across the scripture where Paul described the rapture, saying “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” [1 Thessalonians 4:16]. It immediately caught my attention that the dead that will rise are those that departed this life in Christ. “My God,” I thought, “that’s all the qualification that’s needed.” So, all that matters to God is that they were in Christ?

In my search with the HolySpirit, I began to discover several scriptures that either mentioned “in Him,” “in Christ,” or some variation thereof. God is not concerned or perturbed by men’s sins; in fact, He is not currently holding anybody in the world’s sins against them [2 Corinthians 5:19]. Instead, we tend to be the ones concerned for Him. There are two men in this world even as you read this: the man in Christ and the unregenerate man (outside Christ). God is only interested in the former. And, here’s where it gets interesting. He’s not concerned about the law, ethnic groups, or religion; all He cares about is the new man in Christ.

Galatians 6:15 says “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature,” iterating the same thought. Circumcision, in Paul’s language, referred to the law and all that had to do with it – the religiosity it brought. God was saying through Paul that He does not care about any of those anymore.

Questioning whether or not a Christian should do this or that wrong thing is asking the wrong set of questions; it’s the unregenerate man that needs to know whether or not to smoke. It’s the unregenerate man that needs to know whether or not to deny himself certain obvious pleasures, because it is in him to desire and to do those things. In the gospel, Jesus and all the Apostles were announcing that there is a new man on earth today. That new man has his own characteristics. The real question anyone should therefore be asking is: who is this new man?”

When you begin asking that question, you’re really ready to live. In the opening scripture, we read that “we are also his (God’s) offspring,” meaning that this new man has inherited God’s nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,” letting us know how to become the new man; it’s by being in Christ. And, how does one get in Christ? All you have to do is accept what Jesus did on your behalf by confessing so, and you are instantly found in Him – relocated into hiding in His finished works till you cannot be seen anymore.

There’s so much to say on this topic, but I would let everyone contribute and complete the subject (if at all possible) in the comments section. But, remember this: the new man is sin-free and is a product of God’s love. My local church Pastor once reminded us that parents don’t necessarily favor the child that always does right. Rather, they favor the one that talks with them and that is confident in their love – that child that is bold to ask anything and bold to receive forgiveness when he does wrong. God is the same way! Don’t try to please God with your right-doing; it will yield nothing. Jesus already did right on your behalf. Now, enjoy it in Him!

God bless you!

-- @stburnish