Buchi

Just enjoying Jesus!

Happy birthday Sinach, the beloved.
You're special to Jesus and me.
I celebrate you today and always.

I am so glad I was able to attend the funeral (send forth, I should say) of Rev Dr Uma Ukpai.
All anoitings are not the same...
This one is rare.
All anointings are not equal...
This one is high.
Ohafia stood still.
Abia and Akwa Ibom States; indeed, Nigeria, rose up in salute as the Genera's body was laid to rest.

Even the elements obeyed protocol.
The cloud dispersed.
The sun regulated itself.
The weather was just right.
In his lifetime, the presence of God around "Uma Ukpai" was intense and unmistakable.
In death, it didn't change.
Strange.
The atmosphere was charged!

For me, something stood out.
He was not a distant hero to his people. He was right in their midst, reachable, even as he touched their lives practically and profoundly!
His wealth and influence were felt and seen among the people.

Even on his way to the grave, he bagged a title, "The prophet whose greatness and magnanimity reached home!"
In the words of the community head who gave an eloquent testimony:
" MANY OF US BECAME CHRISTIANS BECAUSE OF HIM".

It was at this point that I could no longer hold it back.
I let my tears flow freely.
..and to think that this monumental impact did not happen through politics! Not through military exploits; not "Oil and Gas"!
It was through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Massive respec' to the General!!!
"MANY OF US BECAME CHRISTIANS BECAUSE OF HIM

It's my wife's birthday!!!
No wonder the air is fresher today.
The quiet woman wants a quiet birthday, but ... noisy me!...
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!!!

THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!
HAVE YOURSELVES A HAPPY WEEKEND...

How will your weekend be?
Neither space nor time has the rule over us; seasons and times (like months, weeks, weekends etc) do not bring anything in themselves.
We tell them what to yield.
We command the seasons.
Tell your weekend what to yield and it shall obey!
Shake off the pressure and do a dance for Jesus!!!

LOOK UP!
"Looking up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith"... It was He, Jesus, who commended us to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Do not replace Him with a man... any man!

Why would you prefer man's guidance, anyway?
Once, I got caught up in a terrible traffic around Iwo road in Ibadan. I was returning to Lagos from Ilesha. I didn't understand that area well.
A certain driver came by, and quickly turned off the traffic-congested road into a side street.
Inspired by his confidence, my driver followed him. We desperately needed to find an alternative connection to the Lagos highway.
Before long, a good number of other vehicles joined us. We werel all hopeful, if not certain, that this driver would lead us out of the maze.
A few left and right turns later, he slowed down, trafficated and turned into a building whose gates swung open at the sound of his car horn.

He had just arrived his destination!

Dear Lord Jesus! In the journey of life, all travellers do not share a common destination.
The rest of us who followed him in the hope of escaping the traffic congestion were left stupefied. Such is the risk and folly of following humans.

While it is good to have good teachers and mentors, we must not let anyone block our view of the One leading us all. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate guide; and the Word of God is His roadmap.
Call me your mentor, if you like. Look up to me and emulate me, but if I miss my steps and falter, do not falter. Do not fall. Do not inherit my failings or weaknesses.
Remember: even the best of men is at best A MAN.

It's Olive's birthday!
Even before she was born, I knew she would be my friend
And I told my wife, her mother.
Then she came.
Different.
Do not judge her by the standards you know,
Or compare her with people you have seen.
This one is different. She's a vision.
God's vision
Unfolding before our eyes
Her warm, beautiful petals
Spreading for all to see.
You don't know Olive, until you have read her.
She's a poet, a rare breed of them.
That's why I'm struggling here
To express my love in poetry,
Hoping that I could match her prowess.
And to capture her many-sided beauty.
The chef in a lawyer's robe? Yes.
The lawyer in the kitchen? Yes.
The quintessential poet whose subject matter is food.
Yessssss!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLIVIERO...

A WEEK OF GOOD NEWS!
One of the greatest ingredients of love is forgiveness.
It's an attribute of God that it is REQUIRED of us as His children.

I can tell how much you love him/her when I know how much you have forgiven him/ her.
You can overcome that hurt by overlooking that wrong.
Set him/her free.
You can do it. Yes, you can.
As you do this, may this be for you a week of good news!

THE RETURNEES

If you don’t feel like listening to a preacher wail endlessly about Jesus, the end times, and a certain world that is coming, I understand.

If you're tired of hearing talk about subjects that seem disconnected from your present-day hustle and reality, in the name of Bible study, I understand perfectly.

If you tell me you're suffocating in the company of Church and "unreasonably" churchy people in the name of fellowship, you're talking to the right guy.

At this point you're almost irritated by matters of Christ.

You're on a road whose end I know. I travelled that road and I've got scars to show for it.

It is called ASTRAY.

The farther you go, the more difficult it is to return.
Presently, nothing may suggest to you that you're on a fatal cruise but, trust me on this one, the end of that road is destruction. Not many make it back in time
At the end of that treacherous road, they scream and try to make a deal with their maker. Late believers!

If you're able to turn around today, you'll be a part of a precious battalion called THE RETURNEES, cherished here on earth and more importantly, celebrated hereafter, in heaven.

The peace here is indescribable!

If you don’t feel like listening to a preacher wail endlessly about Jesus, the end times, and a world to come, I understand.
If you’re tired of hearing conversations that seem disconnected from your everyday hustle and present reality all in the name of Bible study, I understand perfectly.
If you feel like you’re suffocating in the company of church and “overly churchy” people in the name of fellowship, you’re talking to the right person.
You’re on a road whose end I know.
I’ve travelled that road.
I carry the scars to prove it.
It is called ASTRAY.
The farther you go, the harder it becomes to return.
Right now, nothing may suggest that you’re on a fatal cruise. It may even feel freeing. But trust me on this—the end of that road is destruction. Not many make it back in time.
At the end of that treacherous path, many scream and try to negotiate with their Maker.
Late believers.
But if you can turn around today, you’ll become part of a precious battalion called THE RETURNEES, cherished here on earth and, more importantly, celebrated in heaven.
The peace here?
Indescribable.

He didn’t do anything wrong
He also didn’t do the right thing
He simply did nothing,
He took no sides.
What’s wrong with that? One may ask.
But that, in fact, is the problem
The scourge of inaction;
The evil of inaction!
For to him that knows to do good but doesn’t do it, it is sin.
For he that is not gathering with Him
Truth be told, is scattering and working against Him.
Like the man who hid his one talent
Choosing to do nothing with it, that was his undoing
He was summed up as lazy, wicked and unprofitable
For to do nothing with opportunities you have
Which others so eagerly crave,
Is wicked, and a loss to the Lord who gave them to you.
He considered your abilities
And trusted you With His precious gifts and graces
To do nothing therefore, is an outright loss
And means you’ve taken sides against Him
This surely is the danger and the evil of inaction.

(Osondu Atuonwu wrote this)

The breath of life is a great gift,
To wake at dawn, a precious grace.
Arise and Do something for the kingdom
When you move forward,
The kingdom of God moves forward.
When you fail,
The kingdom of God fails.
Wake up, Kings! Move forward.

HAVE A COLOURFUL WEEK!