DISOBEDIENT MOON

So God created the bigger light (sun) to rule the day and the smaller light (moon) to rule the night. human frailties in interpreting the works of God. 

But that's not my point. 

It has been revealed by the studies of heavenly bodies that there will be a little show of disobedience by the moon tomorrow.

The moon will cast its shadow on the sun covering about 97% of the all powerful shining sun.

But I think I'm loving this expected show of arrogance by the moon. The sun which has always prided itself as a round highly luminous gaseous compilation will be reduced to a mere visible ring when the shadow of the moon focuses on its center.

Then for the first time in a long while, the sun won't be the hottest. Maybe some ladies will.
Whatever be the case, tomorrow within the stipulated time for the annular eclipse, be certain not to be on a bike traveling at full speed. Because NEPA (in this case moon) takes the light, you might be crash-landing like a flying Edo witch that just hit a high tension.

Ekwusigokwam




photo credit: Hugo Naijaman

BETWEEN THE TWO FATIMAS

ROSARY OF FATIMA

TESBIH OF FATIMAH

I have jumped off my bed some mornings without saying a single prayer. I have dozed off many a nights without thanking Him for life, love and guidance. Those nights I chatted, read LIB, followed Barcelona matches and even made some calls regarding events of tomorrow and the next as if I have life warranty. I want to grow better.

So today I jumped into a commercial bus en route work. "We are finishing a 9 day novena today" my brain recalled. Quickly I dipped my hands into my jean pocket and brought out a chaplet. That was when it all started:

I was between two passengers of easily recognizable religion; a man dressed in jalabiya, with a heavy mustache hanging from his jaw. And a beautiful young lady with a finger rosary on the fourth finger.
I made the sign of the cross; my jalabiya-wearing friend knew I wasn't a fellow. The young lady saw in me a fellow and a friend. But then the speed with which I slid over the rosary beads brought further confusion.
The jalabia-wearing man became interested in me and my prayers. The prayer pattern was similar to his; the counts were as fast as the inaudible recitations. Proudly, he reached into his pocket and brought out his tesbih and started counting.

When I was done, I turned to the beautiful lady who now was feeling left out and said: "it is the rosary of Mother of Perpetual help". She smiled and then I added “your sacramental is on the fourth finger. It seems you are married to Jesus?" She chortled and said: “Actually, not really. I always pray I see a Christ-loving man to marry. Someone who can pray anywhere without fear or shame"
Immediately, my phone which has been on my right thigh next to her, rang. The caller's number as displayed on the screen was "MY QUEEN". I picked the call and exchanged some lovely greetings. Then said some 'yes, alright, no problem, see ya.'

When I ended the call, the countenance on my beautiful co-passenger wasn't as cheerful as before. So I went on to explain: “Actually, I always prayed that THE QUEEN OF HOLY ROSARY should call me. And she just did.

#prayeristhekey#
#Oct8istheday#

Photo credits: www.patheos.com and www.pininterest.com

FROM LAGOS TO ABUJA

 

Covering the distance between Lagos and Abuja can be very tiring for road users. About 7 hours to navigate the always under-construction Lagos to Edo motorway. Then another 7 to regret why you didn't take the flight on the Okene government-forgotten road and surprisingly 'un-dualized Kogi to Abuja road. As your online-booked GOD IS GOOD transport bus attempt some necessary overtake of earth-moving but slow-moving vehicles, you silently pray to your God that your days be long.

The journey was scary.

But we were entertained by a Nollywood series featuring Kenneth Okonkwo and Ngozi Ezeonu.
Kenneth made real money and married Ngozi's daughter. The money parted ways with him and so did the wife. We felt for him.

But this woman just in front of me felt more for him. She was heaving, sighing, hissing, praying and at the same time cursing.

Ngozi encouraged her daughter to seek money and divorce her husband. The woman in front of me responded with adequate curses: EVIL WOMAN! WICKED WOMAN!! WICKED GENERATION. IT SHALL NEVER BE WELL BE WELL WITH YOUR FAMILY. She was that passionate.

Kenneth was devastated. The woman prayed that her son will never encounter such evil family. Her prayer was greeted with thunderous AMEN from among the other travelers.

Then as with Nollywood where repercussions are easily seen, Kenneth met a man and in a blink became rich again. The woman shouted: PRAISEEEEEEEEE THE MASTER JESUS!!!!!! Again her exclamation was greeted with joyous ALLELUIA.

Then the moment that separates humanity from Christianity came.

The estranged wife came begging for fake forgiveness. Kenneth was still looking at her in search of words, but the woman in front wasn't as hesitant and shouted: WICKED GIRL, SHAMELESS GIRL, MAY GOD STRIKE YOU WITH THUNDER, IT SHALL NEVER BE WELL WITH YOU. GO AND DIE A PAINFUL DEATH.

It seems her words were enough for Kenneth, so he shook his head and said something which the woman's curse wouldn't let us hear.

The movie ended with TO GOD BE THE GLORY. And our woman was clapping non-stop.
How easy it is for us to CURSE AND BLESS AT THE SAME TIME. How passionate we remain and hope for vengeance. How unforgiving we seem to be. How UNCHRISTIAN we really are.

Now that's scarier

Christ would have said: Repent truly and your sins will forgiven. GO and sin more.

photo credit: www.youtube.com

MY POSTS LATELY

I have been an active facebooker for a while now. Writing has always been my best hobby. So I tried to scribble words down hoping they help someone out there who is lost, confused or just trying to be better.

I thank God that some of those posts have really helped in one way or the other. The likes (both seen and unseen) and comments they do generate a times are a testament to that. 

But lately, I noticed something out of the ordinary with my posts. My last two posts especially.
The likes, reactions and comments are exceeding and full of wishes. So I decided to check them out again today.
When I opened my Facebook account the reality hit me; pictures really pass more info than written words. But MORE, PRE-WEDDING PICTURES generate waves. Congratulations flying in. "I will be there live" also competing. Some went further; "Ben you are the man". And I wonder, i have always seen myself as a man right before I even turned eighteen. So my desire to love and sire a son with a queen would confirm my manliness???

Thank you all for all the wishes.

So a certain Ben holds a feast on 8th of October
And he will lay a festive table
And he will wear a wedding gown
He has sent in invitations to his neighbors far and wide. Friends and families far and near.
Be certain not to say: I CANNOT COME.

God bless us all

OUR CUTE PRE-WEDDING PIX

laughter heals

the Chukwudimmas

LOVELY COUPLE

Oct 8 is the date

cutie

prayer is the key

WE ARE AFRICANS

 
OLYMPIC MEDALS? Nonsense!!!!!

Stopping shrugging over our poor Olympic medal profile. We are not Americans neither are we Europeans. We are Africans.

Only American or European originated games are played in Olympics. We have our own games and its rules.

1. We play canter; eleven bottle covers tactically arranged in a footballing style Kicking the improvised ball in a goal post constructed using a sugar carton.
2. Even gymnastics like 'APAMA'. Then the backflippings on a rock solid ground.
3. Our local games like 'NCHO'.
4. Tree climbing and catapult shooting too.
5. What about playing cashew nuts?
6. Jumping steps.
 

Civilization is really good but what is bad about it, is imposition.
We have 4 market days (Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo) yet we all now live in the white man's seven days.
Our names used to have meanings, now we just have 'good' sounding names with meanings alien to us.
Imagine my confusion when she told me that her name was Sophia Williams. I proceeded to ask for her state of Origin hoping to hear something like Ohio or Philadelphia. She replied: "Anambra state". Jeezzz!!! An Igbo girl with basically no identity. Sophia means???? likewise Williams.

But we bear names and surnames with meanings and easy identification
Okafor implies that the bearer is a man born on Afor market day
Mgbafor is the feminine form of Okafor
Okorie implies that the bearer is a man and was born on Orie market day
Mgborie is its feminine form.
Likewise Okonkwo, Nweke and Mgbeke.

Our names give us identity and recognition. But now, we try to drop our surnames and replace them with 'meaningless'names of white origin.

Please this trend of changing our surnames from Okonkwo to Franklin is the height of self humiliation. There is nothing fetish in our surnames. We are all sons of the living God.

Changing your surname from Nwosu to Mark doesn't make you more a Christian, than Nwafor who still worships the gods of his ancestors in faithfulness and truth. And who is loving, kind and does not bear false witness.

‪#‎enoughofthisselfhumiliation‬#
photo credit: www.pininterest.com

STOP LETTING ANYONE DECEIVE YOU WITH UNNECESSARY PRAYER SESSIONS

The easiest and commonest prophecy from 'men of God' these days is "SOMEONE/SOME PEOPLE ARE AFTER YOU."

Here in Nigeria, everyone believes someone is either stopping their progress or is envying their success. When business ventures fail, an enemy is involved. When examinations are failed, an enemy made sure of that. When marriage seems not forthcoming, spiritual husbands are seriously at work. Even a fatal accident on account of recklessness or bad roads has something to do with evil machinations from the village.

So, the 'men of God' would easily tell you that someone is after you. Someone is trying to frustrate you. Someone is trying to impede your progress. And of course, you would immediately start seeing enemies everywhere. Your father becomes a monster. Your mum becomes a witch. Your friends become 'evil-wishers'. And only you and your pastor are the just, righteous and the upright.

Let us all wake up and stop letting deceitful men take control of our lives. There are actually evil-wishers but most times, that is all they can do- WISH YOU EVIL. But wishes are not horses so beggars won't ride. Your progress in life therefore lies between you and your God. Stop waging an unreasonable war that only dissipate your energy for the day's work ahead. Nobody is truly fighting you except yourself. Be with thy God and WHO CAN STAND AGAINST THEE????

And even when it seems that people are actually against you. Don't spend much time on verbal prayers and crusades. No, work harder and smarter, for it is said that TO WORK IS TO PRAY (laborare est orare).
God gave us 24 hours in a day, greater part of which is illuminated by sun so we can see clearly and then pray by working. The rest, dimmed to an extent, that you may pray verbally and sleep.

Jesus Christ spent only 40 days praying and fasting. And three years for the working.
 
‪#‎laborareestorare‬#

photo credit: azquotes.com 

MY REAL FAMILY TREE

 

I have always bragged to myself that I have the perfect picture of my family tree, nuclear and extended. I have always known by position and role. I can even tell you that I know what everyone of us is up to and where they reside. The paternal and maternal genealogical divides, I also believed I had a perfect knowledge of. 

BUT I WAS MISTAKEN

On Saturday, I visited the popular Lagos market in the island. Popular for its sheer size, availability of all required items and at a cheaper rate. Most Lagosians when they are less busy troop in there to cheaply secure those items which otherwise would be sold in exotic boutiques at  higher prices.

Immediately I stepped my feet into the market,  my hitherto perfect knowledge of my family tree was forever altered; a young lady selling assorted biscuits called out to me; "uncle buy original Danish cookies". I stopped; goose bumps engulfed my entire body. "So one of my siblings' offspring ended up at a very young age selling cookies in island?" I asked myself. When I looked closely, I couldn't place her identity. So I walked on

Next was an older woman of about 56yrs selling stockings. She was trying to reach out to me too: “daddy please buy with me. I get original stockings". I almost lost it there. I'm yet to have a family of my own and here I'm being accused of fathering a woman of about 56yrs. I was still contemplating whether to confront the woman when a voice called out from behind; “brother, I get better chinos trousers oooo". My brother Mike always said about changing his line of business.  "So he finally switched to clothe business?"  Then I turned to greet him and probably ask him when he finally began his new business. In front of me stood a guy though cheated by height was well-built.  He was holding a long stick with a nail near its topmost end to assist him with unhinging the highly placed trousers. His face bore no resemblance with any brothers of mine. His hazelnut eyes probably browned by too much exposure to smoke or as a result of deficiency of blood-giving vitamins made his look most confusing to me. But he was well-built so I hid my anger and walked on.

Then a feminine voice called out; "my son". I couldn't believe my ears. "Mum in Lagos? Who brought her? Since when? Why didn't she tell me she was coming?" sharply I turned to the direction of the voice and behold stood a woman probably of the same age with my mum, seated on a roadside pavement and pointing at her stockfish for me. When I drew closer to ascertain maybe she was my mother's sisters whose daughter lives here in Lagos, her next words convinced me on the opposite; " Omo dada, ejoor..... " We have no genealogical link whatsoever with Yoruba land. At least for now.

Eventually, I was able to buy the few items I came for and left. When I got home, I angrily wanted to call dad to explain the various brothers and sisters of mine which he never disclosed to me while growing. But then I remembered;

Though we are all different.  In Christ, we are all one.

We see ourselves as strangers but in truth, we are all one. We always say " it is all man for himself" but in reality it should be " all for one, one for all"

So I realized, actually the people I saw were my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, mums and dads.

#weareone#

photo credit: familytreemagazine.com

THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN

Wakes up to a Monday blue

                                              Knowing by five he must be through                      

Because he knows just one thing is true

Clock in after eight and your stay is due

Works tirelessly for fear of sack

For finance is something not to lack

Leaves the office by eight and heads to park

And gets home only when it's dark

Wakes again but happy for the day

For the day he knows is a Friday

Sings a song and dance to the play

Gosh!! It feels like a birthday

Work is closed and off he goes

One bottle down and so his woes

Steps on the dance floor and dance to the flows

So many around and they dance in twos

Leaves by two and maybe in two

Lives alone so no one to explain to

Up on the bed to rest or to..

Whatever, it's between the two

Unlike work, church can wait

Better still, he can be late

Carnal desires first to sate

And God can be placed on another date

The man of God anyway doesn’t care

His soul may perish but his money so dear

The end is near and death to fear

His cross alone to bear.