We are H-A-P-P-Y… We know we are…

How’s everyone doing?

Good weekend? Ready for the week? This is going to be one of my busiest but I thought I’d take a few minutes and say a big hello to everyone, play catch up a bit.

So my niece and nephew were ill, one had malaria and a tummy bug, and the other one had a cold that stretched at least two weeks, and she still had it after she gave it to me. We spent small time in the hospital, and that’s where the story about blood donation came from (I published that recently).

I’ve also done a bit of local travel, looking forward to when I can take a proper holiday… I owe myself two – one for my birthday and the other because life is short and we should take time off to rest and be quiet when we can. Amen?

God dey.

Work is alright… Moved into a new office in June and we’re getting settled in really nicely. Really thankful to God for that, and the immediate possibilities I see for expansion.

Still on work, got two interesting referrals recently, a stark reminder that clients, no matter how little, matter and an excited client post your custom might make a difference as much as 24 months after. I’m really thankful for the referrals, and now just need God’s help to ensure that we beat the standards we’re being held to. Amen?

On Saturday I was privileged to speak at my church’s business/entrepreneur summit, and I drew my topic/talk from some work I’d done for a client recently. I spoke on minding the gaps and facing the direction of travel. Corny I know but it was a good opportunity to fuse my love for trains with my experiences as a student, an employee, and now an employer. It was interesting for me to talk about some of the lessons I’ve learned, and how each step leads to the next, and the next, and the next. It was also very instructive to talk about the place of God in business, and the mistakes I’ve made simply because I ignored the still small voice telling me no. I had a good time, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

What else? I’m happy. Sweet baby Jesus this daughter of God is happy. I am joy-like-a-river, peace-like-a-fountain, love-like-an-ocean brand of happy. Such a beautiful feeling. Everything in my life; experiences, joy, sadness, mistakes, successes; everything that I have seen has prepared me for where I am now, and I am thankful to God for His many blessings and precious gifts. There’s a new mercy every single day! And I’m loving it!

Finally, I need to get back in the gym. Don’t know why I’m typing this instead of renewing my membership but yeah, this child needs to be back in that place where more calories are burnt than piled on. Yep. This week is out of the question sha, and I’m not bothered in the least what you think! *sticks tongue out*

Finally finally, lol. My nephew moves to reception next school session! Whoop! He’s officially a big boy now! Interestingly, he’s slowly outgrowing the millions of hugs and kisses I drown him in, and he’s only four! I thought they didn’t start all of that till much later? Arrrrrghhhh! Bring back my baby! *sad face*

Finally finally finally, I got a birthday gift yesterday… I know o, this is still for the birthday that passed in May. Is the Lord laying it on your heart to send me a pressie? Harden not your heart biko!

How have you been? Are you keeping okay? Are you doing well? Want to share? Please do!

Mwah!

PS: A song in the back of my mind for a few days now has been “we are h-a-p-p-y, we are h-a-p-p-y, we know we are we are sure we are, we are h-a-p-p-y!” (If you went to primary school in Nigeria this should ring a bell… or two… or three… or four… I’ll stop here)!

#31Days31Writers: Chukwuka’s experiencing what it means to live by faith!

So how do I know Chukwuka?

I saw a comment he left on one of the entries for this #31Days31Writers series and it just occurred to me to ask if he would be interested in sending in an entry. And he said yes! And reading this, I know it was God that wanted him to share his story to encourage everyone who would read, including me.

The year’s been a bit dodgy for some, ups and downs, and lefts and rights. Only constant thing is the One who made us, fashioned the earth, and is already in 2016 waiting to show us His greatness! I’m so encouraged by this!

I’m experiencing what it is to live by faith. When I heard Micah Stampley do the song ‘Heaven On Earth”, I never understood what he meant until I began to meditate upon those lyrics that “to be living in His favour and grace is just like heaven on earth”.  I usually don’t like speaking about what I’ve gone through in the past, rather I choose to sit in my quiet times and allow those tranquil thoughts go off my subconscious mind. 2015 has been a year of tests, trials and lessons for me.

2015 January started for me with fresh memories of my Mom’s burial ceremony in December 2014, I couldn’t think straight because there is nothing more painful than the loss of a mother. Later on when I thought all was going well, I lost my job.

At the time, it seemed like an orchestrated process by the devil to pull me back to square one as if a volcano had just erupted over me. I started getting addicted to alcohol gradually to suppress my deep hurt but I found no hope. Sometimes ladies think they are the only ones engulfed in the race of keeping pace with the realities of life. We guys do too! When our friend proposes to his bae, we smile and clink glasses but deep inside you feel like you aren’t measuring up! Yeah? When half of your friends suddenly hibernate only to appear on Instagram on the streets of Denmark, there is a feeling in you that makes you want to fly away too! It looks like some things have eluded you each time you compare yourself to people, and that was my case.

I was heartbroken; looked like the whole world had moved ahead of me, like really? I got rejuvenated after reading 1 Corinthians 15:41. I focused on developing myself, praying daily and leaning on God. It was during those periods of being out of a job that I got introduced to the Winners Family and joined in the daily 5.30am prayer sessions. Thereafter, I was introduced to what is known as “Kingdom Advancement Prayers”. These prayers ushered in a new dawn for my life in all areas. Where I saw lack I began to see abundance, where I had rejection, I began to see love, where I saw hopelessness, I saw light and things began to take shape.

My major lesson is this: I’ve learnt that friends are angels in human form; they exist in our lives to help us build a family away from ‘family’. God be praised for friends.

I’ve come to terms with investing in my relationships with people, my friends and even neighbours. I count myself lucky to have been blessed with godly, disciplined and purpose-driven friends.

I’ve learnt never to compare myself with anyone.

If there be anything I wish I could unmake or change, it will be that I will learn to take actions quickly.

Truly Heaven on earth has been my experience all through this year; I have no regrets rather I see my mistakes as a refining fire to bring out a better version of me. I might not be yet married, I might not have the type of cars my friends are driving but I am contented with the gift of life God has blessed me with – a passion for teaching.

I have channeled this gift into practical use for three years now volunteering with Beyond The Classroom Foundation. I am involved in a project initiated by Microsoft Nigeria –One Million Fingers Coding” where I teach the basics of coding to students in primary 4. My biggest dream in 2016 is to see these children come up with ideas about what their future careers will be and?

My next desire in 2016 is to be seriously engaged in advancing the Kingdom of God on earth, for that is the key to all of life’s breakthroughs.

My name is Chukwuka Anslem Ozor, I work and reside in Lagos, I like teaching. I work as Content Deployment Executive at Imaginarium Creative.

Amazing work!

First off, my condolences on your mom… Here’s praying God’s great comfort on your entire family. Second, a very big yay! Very well done Chukwuka, my dad’s semi namesake (My dad’s Chuka, no full-form)… Here’s to a brilliant 2016 for you!!

PS: Have you heard of TechHer? I think we should do some work together next year when TechHer goes to Lagos….

7 killer emotions – which ones are killing you?

So in April I woke up one Sunday morning and felt I wanted to attend a church I’d never been in before. And pronto, HolyHill Church came to my mind, so I had a shower, got ready, and went.

I got there a little late, and so I slipped into a seat at the back. And after a little bit, it was time for the word, title of which forms the first half of the title of this post. Seven killer emotions. Before we pray, can you hazard a guess what they are? Yeah?

Maybe I should digress a bit before we pray – Pastor Sunday Ogidigbo is a good friend of mine; one of the people who define what running a church should be in my opinion. The church has an arm called Holy Hill Relief Foundation which not only caters to the fees and educational needs of indigent children in the FCT, but also has a team of volunteer teachers who give an hour of their time each week teaching subjects like English, Mathematics, Literature, etc. Brilliant stuff, affecting the community beyond messages of prosperity, hell, or holiness. That’s what church/religion should be. They’re on Twitter as @HRelieff, and you can contact them via hrelieff.org

Digression done, let us pray. Dear Lord, let this post bless someone today; let it take them from where they are now, to where they should be in/with You, amen. Bibles and note pads out; ready? Let’s do it!

Most of the things that happen to or around us start from the inside and then manifest in everything we do.

Our emotions affect everything we do, a Chinese proverb says”he who does not smile should not keep shop”.

Pastor Sunday also said some people who purport to help you when you embark on something are just there to document your failure, others are there because they care, others are there because they are afraid. Very few truly buy into and believe your vision. Remember Gideon and the 300 in the Bible, book of Judges?

It’s not not what people do/say to you, it’s the mind and the interpretation I ascribe to those things that give them power over me or not.

So what are these emotions?

1. Fear: reacting to real or perceived threats and assuming erroneously that God cannot help you

2. Anxiety: looking at tomorrow and not believing that God is there and will come through for you

3. Pride: convincing yourself and acting like you lifted yourself by your own hand

4. Anger: An intense, emotional response to real or perceived violation of trust/interests/boundaries. Anger has a way of limiting the intelligence of your actions. Remember Ecclesiastes says anger resides in the belly of fools.

5. Bitterness: anger not dealt with leads to unforgiveness and that in turn leads to bitterness.

6. Malice: a dangerous, deep-seated desire to uplift injury/harm or to see a person suffer (loss) because of anger, the need for vengeance, or just because of wickedness.

The interesting about malice is that it doesn’t need a cause – sometimes events around you that seem nasty might just be the bestiality of the devil, not because the person suffering did anything.

*The existence of a bright light does not extinguish yours. Why not think, “the more, the merrier?”

7. Envy: hating on a person (sometimes more deserving) because they have something you don’t, or something you wish to have. So you wish they lose it, just like Joseph’s brothers in the book of Genesis.

Hian! Are you a devil? (Pastor didn’t say this, this line is all me, but super valid!)

Pastor however advised us to share our ideas with wisdom. Your innocent excitement about a project you’re working on, a blessing you’ve just received, or some progress you’ve made can inspire envy.

I loved the service, talk about my steps being ordered by God to go there that wonderful morning in April! It was so relatable, such a ‘live in 2015’ sermon, and I hope that you’ve enjoyed the read.

We prayed a prayer to close the service, and it was “Father give me the grace/wisdom not to be negative and to operate with the right set of emotions, amen.

Have a fabulous week! God’s got you!

Light, love, and God’s great blessings,

FGS.

Forgive me, I’m human!

Greetings from my lodgings in Earls Court, where I am holed up for a few days, trying to collect my thoughts, sleep uninterrupted (by my thoughts) for a few days, and just breathe air that isn’t disturbed by fuel scarcity, PHCN, or expensive data.

I went to church on Sunday, and guess who the Minister for the day was? Pastor Brian Houston! The man himself! No way! I was ecstatic! The title of his message is the title of this post (centered on temptation), and I hope it brings hope, light, and encouragement to you like it did for me!

James 1: 12-15 (and we read The Message version)

¹² Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

^13-15 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

There is no shortage of ways we can or are tempted for the sole reason that we are human. For every temptation, there is a pain/pleasure route that presents as options and determines if we have pleasure or pain at the end.

1 John 2: 16

Hebrews 4:5

12 things about temptation

1. Temptation is a control freak and a manipulator. Romans 7: 18 – 20
2. Temptation targets our weaknesses and our most vulnerable seasons
3. Temptation reasons like a seasoned academic or an articulate debater. That’s why there will always be a ‘justification’ for sin. 2 Corinthians 3. Our thoughts lead to Imaginations, which lead to High things (or arguments in favor of the sin) which lead to it taking a Stronghold.
4. Temptation rationalizes the irrational and defends the indefensible
5. Temptation’s seduction is as masterful as its abandonment is stunning.
6. Temptation promises like a friend and disappoints like an enemy.
7. It is overwhelmingly self-indulgent and has no regard/thought for the people you love and respect
8. Temptation is a mocker – mocking God’s plans and desires for us
9. Temptation will inevitably come round for another round

• Temptation magnifies the immediate and clouds the permanent or the eternal.
• Temptation blinds you to wisdom and opens us up to folly. Proverbs chapters 1 through 9.

James 1:5

Here’s the thing though – we cannot beat temptation through fear but by the love of Christ. Understanding God’s love for us and His sacrifice on our behalf and living our lives to show Him our love is a great tool to triumph over temptations.

1 John 5:2

Temptations are rooted in our desires or passions but the truth is not all desires/passions are bad. So how about not killing them but repurposing/refocusing them? How about consciously focusing on God and things of God? There won’t be much room for anything else.

So, a few things

1. Don’t go there in your mind.
2. Don’t underestimate the power of our friends on us – sometimes we need to cut some people out of our lives because they help create a conducive environment for sin to thrive.

I was thoroughly blessed by that word, and it is my hope that this has encouraged you. Another thing during the service that touched me was the encouragement we got before we gave our offerings and I will attempt to share that with you.

The pastor read from Luke 15 (the story of the prodigal son) and talked through how sometimes it is our sacrifices in church that pave the way for others. So, the Prodigal Son had stuff to come back to because others continuously labored. So, when next you’re putting an offering in church, cleaning, or serving in some unit or the other, have it at the back of your mind that your service is preparing the way for someone else to come to Jesus.

 

Have a fabulous rest of the week (fuel, electricity scarcity notwithstanding)!

Light, love, and God’s many blessings!

*Written on the 10th of May.

About the horn of unforgiveness

How easy is it for you to forgive? Easy/difficult? Or something you don’t even dare? Are you one of those people who say they can forgive but they can never ever, ever forget? Lol… I used to be like that.

I attended a service in Asaba late in 2014 and my father preached on the horn of unforgiveness. As always I made notes you can share in, so welcome to church!

He started by saying, the company you follow/accompany determines what will follow/accompany you. I totally agree.

Zechariah 1:17-21

Unforgiveness is refusing to let go of something or someone who in your opinion hurt you.

Unforgiveness is not holding my peace and letting God fight for me but forcing Him out of my fight because I want to do it all myself. That’s scary, who are we without Him?

Matthew 18:20-21

Genesis 50:17 – ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.”

Who has noticed that forgiving people can be a difficult thing? And the greater the grief they caused, the harder it might be to forgive. But it is a clear instruction from God. We must forgive.

2^nd Chronicles 7:14

Psalm 130:3- 4 “Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies”

Zechariah 1:17-21 (yes, we read it again, for emphasis).

So, how do we defeat the horn of unforgiveness, which is rooted in anger? By the way, anger is some sort of inflammation, deep-rooted resentment or upset. The dictionary defines it as…

Psalm 103:4-5 “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

Ephesians 4:26-27

Daddy mentioned something I want to ask about; do you know how your heart skips a beat when you round a corner and see someone you’ve got beef for/with? Lol… Unhealthy stuff.

And the sad/unfortunate thing is that most times the person we’re beefing is not even aware so we’re just stressing our hearts and minds and the person is walking around free!

How do you deal with anger? (Err, don’t worry there’s no magical or high-sounding formula)

1. Keep your cool
2. Don’t say or do anything when you’re angry. This is something we probably already knew but did you know the Bible mentions it too? Proverbs 25:11, 15:1,3.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.”  Verse 17 of the same scripture says, “On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?”

Did you learn something? Now to ask God for grace to let that learning shine through the things we do so that the few minutes we spent reading this don’t waste.

Dear Lord, help us to always turn our fights over to you, to remember that living like/for you means we must forgive people who offend us just like we’re forgiven all our sins as well. Help us to live right, amen.

Have a good week!

PS: Did you go to church today? Hope it’s a yes…

What’s your favorite scripture? Why?

So there are a million challenges going on simultaneously in our world today. There’s the Ice Bucket challenge, 20 things about you (obviously resurrected because I know there was something like this some time in 2009), and tons of others. There’s also the favorite scripture challenge, and my friend Francesca (I have to stop blogging about this girl, haba) nominated me to put up my favorite ones. I decided to put them up (did that on Facebook) but I also decided to open it up to my Christian audience.

What is your favorite scripture? What are your favorite scriptures? What speaks to you? What gets you out of difficult situations?

While you think of it, here’s what I put up…

Here’s accepting Francesca Onomarie Uriri‘s challenge to put up my favorite Bible verses. Ok, so some of them are not complete verses but I’ll do a bit of a context for each of them…

Here goes!

Titus 1 vs 2 – “God who cannot lie” Not like He won’t lie, He can’t. Even if He wanted to, this is the one thing He cannot do. This scripture for me is what gives the entire Bible the legs it stands on. It is such a comfort on days when I feel blue!

Psalm 107: 20 – “He sent His word and delivered them out of their destruction” – Sometimes, we dey take our hands find trouble (can I hear an amen) but God’s word rescues/snatches/delivers us. Super grateful. Super super grateful!

Photo Credit: Wise Decor http://www.wisedecor.com/decor/wall-lettering/scripture/

Joshua 1: 8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” – ‘this book of the law’ for me refers to whatever my hands find to do per time. The only one who can negate the promises of God concerning a person is? That person. So if the book of (whatever law – school, work, the Bible, whatever) departs from your mouth, and you don’t meditate (work at it, devote productive hours to it), you will not make your way prosperous, and you will not have good success.

Selah (said in the voice of my Pastor, The Rev Goodheart Obi Ekwueme).

So, who to nominate? My sisters – Tokes, Raji, Adaora, Nike, go for it!

Over to you people, share yours!

Are you a living sacrifice, or have you gone AWOL?

Sometime in February, I had a chat with a Pastor friend of mine, and what started out as me doing him a favor turned out to be the fulfillment of the perfect plan of God for him to mentor me. Apparently he had received this word as far back as 2009 but at the time we spoke (2014) the time was right. Don’t you just love God and the way He absolutely plans things?

Anyway, by the end of the evening (and we must have talked for a little under four hours), I was the proud owner of a beautiful Message Bible, and Rick Warren’s ‘The Purpose Driven Life’. Whoop!

I dug up a book by my Father in the Lord, Pastor Obi Goodheart Ekwueme which just has little pearls of wisdom for each day and so my devotion literally revolves around these two and a devotionals on my phone on the YouVersion App. This particular one is a 40-day Bible reading plan, created by Hillsongs (my home church), whoop!

So! I started on all three, and brethren (testimony mode), it’s been great! Some days I’ve been so excited with the new knowledge I glean that I call my Momma to preach it to her! PS – my Momma has prayed all three of us into loving the Lord, and am I grateful for that or what!

A few days ago, the topic for the day in ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ was all about surrendering to God, worshipping Him in ways that are acceptable to Him, and becoming intimate with Him. Yeah? Now that I think of it, that’s been the theme over the last four days or so.

Anyway, this particular morning the topic revolved around loving God being a process rather than a one-time action. It said it was a marathon (never-ending), not a sprint. The same way friendships and relationships get stronger and grow fonder courtesy constant interaction, the same way our relationships with God will grow only by constant communication. You don’t love your family and then not talk to them in weeks or months ( I can safely say I speak to at least one member of my family). Seven if you add my 23month old Boo Boo! How much more God?

It also talked about offering ourselves up as a ‘living sacrifice’, again alluding to the need for constant fellowship with God. And this is the part that amused me. It said the reason why we need to constantly rededicate ourselves up to God is because a living sacrifice can “crawl away from the altar”. Lol!

When you think of it though, we are alive aren’t we? Think of crawling babies; I know for sure that they never remain where you keep them (my nephew is a living, breathing, testimony to that)

And so everyday is a fresh opportunity to say to the Lord, “I’m willing to be used by you today, talk to me, I love you and want to please you with my day”. It doesn’t mean you should be on your knees for the 24 hours in your day, it just means you shouldn’t sing “Onward Christian soldiers” on a Sunday, and then go AWOL on a Monday! Lol, that’s another thing that amused me from the devotional.

I’m going through a phase in my life right now and these words have helped me stay strong and rooted in God; I hope they bring encouragement and joy to your heart today. Amen!

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And @RobertMadu came to church! Hillsongs rocks!

First off, growing up I always felt like I only needed to attend only one service per Sunday. Growing up as a pastor’s child? Not too easy. According to my father’s gospel, every living soul in his house was supposed to leave the house in the same car for the first service, and return in the car after the last service. When we were younger, there’d be a snack between services but that disappeared sooner than I hoped!

So, by the time I could stay for just one service, I took it. I made it a point of duty to stay for just one. Even as a church worker, somehow I would get some unique satisfaction from being able to skip a service.

Didn’t have that problem while I was in Birmingham and serving in the choir and children’s ministry of RCCG CRA Perry Barr because we had just one service. And even though the service and all my work in church meant I would be in church for as much as 5 hours in a day, I didn’t mind! It wasn’t labeled, ‘two services’.

Anyway!! Today’s all about the first service of the year at my super fabulous church, Hillsongs London! Attended first late in 2012, and the thing I’ve done most since then? I keep going back, and each service is such a blessing I know I’ve found my home! Next step is joining a unit but before then, whip out your Bibles, and let’s run through my notes from Sunday!

Pastor Robert Madu (pronounced by everyone as ‘ma-doo’ even though his father is Nigerian) was in church, his first time ever in England, and is an incredible speaker. He taught on “The formula for a great year”, and I hope these notes bless you as much as they blessed me!

He started by talking a bit about the power of the intro, referencing social scientists who talk about Estimated Relationship Potential (ERP). ERP dictates that the first five minutes determine if your audience will lean in and follow your conversation, or become distracted. How do you introduce yourself? Do you smile? Do you invite people by the way you speak, or do you chase them away?

Matthew 6:31-34

John 16:33

Genesis 1:14. How we begin things matter, not just how we end them. Martin Luther King said “he who starts late in a race must run faster to overtake or forever remain behind.

We fail at our resolutions year in year out because we run them on willpower.What we need, is real power, the same thing God used to create everything we see today. We need, ‘Word Power’.

When we’re in places where nothing seems to be working, it’s not the time to complain, but the time to praise God onto the scene because He is the only one who can make something from nothing! For His glory!

We need to come to a point where we implicitly believe that everything God has said concerning us must come to pass.

Genesis 1:3-5 = God said let there be light, and there was light.

Genesis 1:16-19 = Three days after he created the sun, moon, and stars. Have you wondered what had been shining for three days though?

Genesis 1:14b = So why did God bother with making the sun, moon, et al? Because He wanted us to see signs of seasons, days, and years.

The formula for success this year is trusting God regardless of the season I’m in. Living beings have seasons, we all have days in our years, but the constant is God, and ‘His Word’. Everything else changes.

Old people want to be young, young people want to be old, but the art of living life well is to trust God through and through.

I put this up on Facebook a couple days ago… The seasons will not dictate my faith!

Everyday is a gift from God; what I do with that day is my gift back to Him. And I am determined that I will spoil my God with a wonderful gift every day of this year!

P:S – I love my church! And I’m mega grateful for Pastor Madu!

“Castration as an act of mercy” – My girl Zima goes hard! #31days31writers

First it was Twitter, then it was emails, then one long phone call, and then Zima and I met up Waterloo station, and proceeded to have a Cuban/Jamaican/Mexican lunch (I truly cannot remember which one it was, but I know I enjoyed it!)

Apart from eating, we talked, a lot. From healthcare, family, work, men (duh), and dreams that we have. Zima is absolutely lovely, and I’m excited she agreed to write in on an issue that is dear to both our hearts.

I’m Zima Meli, a Nigerian citizen and looking back on 2013, I can cite numerous reasons to be grateful, two of which are: a new role and a new perspective on life.

As a result of my newly found perspective, I would like to jump up and straight into proposing a solution (in my 600-word window) to the growing problem of child molestation faced in our society. In the month of November, the Punch Newspaper reported on 13 individual rape cases, 46% of which involved children under 14. Whether it is as a result of increased reportage, or increased interconnectedness, I’m sure we can agree that we are experiencing a copious amount of paedophilia news reportage. One online news reviewer has even taken to humorously tagging these reports “news from depravity central”. But there is nothing humorous about paedophilia. At least, not for children.

Rather than delve into grueling analysis of the damage done by this, how about we discuss some solutions? How do we face this as a society? Do we shake our heads na-wa-for-this-world-ly, or push for an appropriate penalty effective in deterring these reprobates? Such as castration?

Before a bounty is placed on my head, hear me out. Castration dates back to ancient Hebrew, Greek and Persian cultures and served a number of purposes including (as time went on) punishing vile sex offenders. Many countries still adopt this (and with good results) as a means of rehabilitating sex offenders. Howbeit, the practice has shifted over time from a surgical to chemical approach (or anti-libidinal psychopharmacological intervention if you want to sound posh). Here are 3 reasons why we should consider in Nigeria.

1. It is effective. Reports from Scandinavia show a reduction in reoffending rates from 40% to as little as 5%. In developed climes, offenders admit to having lost control of their urges, and even voluntarily request castration. So, if a.) offenders admit to these offences being beyond their control, and b.) temporary measures have been shown to be effective in curbing deviant sexual behavior, doesn’t it make sense to introduce permanent/irreversible measures  to curb these crimes in societies with higher incidences and less effective solutions? Surely, it follows that if there is a valid case for life imprisonment for certain crimes, there should also be a case for permanent castration for perpetrators of crimes of a relevant nature? And before someone brings up the issue of human rights, anyone who violates the innocence of a child should accept a waiver on their own human rights, simply because children only have one chance at childhood.

2. No money to waste. In a society like ours where prison budgets are anorexic at best, this seems to me the most effective, and least expensive option – at least until we are mature enough to pamper our offenders. In the meantime, give them 10 years, ‘destroy their tools of trade’, and make society better.

3. The Bible suggests so. But does the Bible not call for forgiveness? It does, and also states that Christians are subject to the laws of the land. So, if Jesus had caught a child molester in the act, would he have asked them to “Go and sin no more”? Many scholars believe that he wouldn’t have. The argument for this comes from Matthew 18:6, and Mark 9:42, where Jesus said of anyone who causes little children to stumble, that it would have been better if they had a millstone round their neck, before being irretrievably dropped into the sea. David Instone-Brewer in his book, The Jesus Scandals suggests that this statement was aimed directly at child abusers, based on the Greek term (skandalizo) translated to the English word ‘stumble’. Apparently, the same Greek term is used in older Jewish texts, warning young men not to “gaze at a virgin, lest her beauty makes you stumble”, and also to avoid “the wicked woman who will make you stumble”. Scholars argue that this language is euphemistic, as in the popular Jewish literary culture of the time, but the implications were obvious. Jesus was talking here about child sex abuse, which he hated with more ferocity than he expressed for any other sin, and it is not difficult to see why.

Therefore, castration reserves a space for eunuchs under the category “those made eunuchs by men”.

In a nutshell, a cocktail consisting of the confessed ‘helplessness’ of offenders, an obligation to keep our children and society safe, and the failure of our existing justice system to control this menace, suggests that chemical castration offers both hope for offenders, and an effective solution for any society serious about protecting its vulnerable future.

My dear, very dear Zima! Looking peaceful like she didn’t just spit fire in this post!! And I agree with her a hundred and fifty percent!

 

Trusting in God alone: My day @ St Jude’s Church, Wolverhampton…

This is the first Anglican church I’ve been to in like two years, last one I was in was St Paul’s Crofton in Orpington.

Well, I was in Wolverhampton and so Booski and I attended this service. To be honest after we got in and sat down, I wasn’t even sure the service had started because the person (would later find out he was the vicar) took to the podium and started with some light-hearted banter! Asked what people had been up to in the past week, told us of traveling and reading the SatNav wrong and so ending up veeeery far from where he was supposed to be, was funny!

Then the service proper started and immediately the choir started a rendition of ‘Christ Alone’ (my favorite song from Hillsongs Church), I knew I was thoroughly going to enjoy the service! And I did!

After we’d sung that song (and a couple others), the vicar invited people to come out and tell tales of God‘s favour, how they had either received or channeled God’s favour in the past week. Someone told of some help they’d received in their volunteering role, another person talked about God helping him have patience with his 91-year-old mom, and another person (I hear he was the former priest) talked about God using a lady in the parish to show him favour. Brought tears to my eyes because he was pretty emotional when he was speaking…

Not even going to lie, I nearly dozed off during the Bible reading, it was so long! But then the message started and all the sleep vanished (praise the Lord)!

Sermon time! I’m reproducing my notes, ok?

*I keep saying that we christians complicate Christ and Christianity so much that we make it impossible for anyone to join in. Then we hold countless prayer vigils and fasts because the “harvest is plenty but the labourers are few”. No, the labourers are not few, the labourers are trampling on the harvest instead of gathering it/them up!

*We elevate Ministers of the gospel to positions where we had hitherto placed God (past tense because God never shares His spot in our hearts with anyone or anything) and so when they make mistakes (because they are flesh and therefore fallible) we become disappointed.

*We should avoid the ‘public declarations without private substance’ club as true sons and daughters of the Lord. Are we doing what we say are? Or we are totally different people in our hidden places?

Romans 7:14-25

*Every believer is a work -in-progress, constantly aiming for perfection. And so even though we expect life to be full of unequivocal certainties, life is full of ambiguities: it is for the most part, unsure. That’s why we must trust God, who knows the end from the beginning!

*The Bible pulls no punches in its portrayal of human beings, it is we human beings who idolize certain characters in there as being without sin. It is that characteristic we then transfer to our pastors, priests, etc. David (man after God’s heart) made a mistake, Noah got drunk, Ruth ‘deceived’ Boaz into marrying her, Moses had a temper, Gideon was a chicken (lol), all these great men were fallible.

Whatever you do, 100% trust and faith in God is absolutely necessary. NOT in man or in possessions, but in God. Him alone!

Highlight of the service for me was attending with my Booski! Another major highlight was singing one of my favorite songs ever, ‘Christ Alone’ from my church in London (Hillsongs). I’m still searching high and low for a video (or audio) for it, but you’ll be the first to know soon as I have it!

Enjoy the weekend, and make sure you fellowship with the brethren tomorrow!

Related articles

• Off to a great start (ayearwithoutchurch.wordpress.com)
• Emotional Rollercoaster (praying4zach.wordpress.com)
• They Know Who You Are (fggam.org)