I have five letters for you: J.E.S.U.S

Jesus is not a fable told in the Bible.
Jesus is not an exclamation.
Jesus is not an expression of intense pleasure!
Jesus is Christ.
Jesus is REAL.
Jesus is not in a tomb in Jerusalem. He is alive forevermore.
You may not accept or believe this but it doesn't make it a lie or a myth.
I know Jesus. Jesus knows and loves me personally.
Jesus is everything! Jesus is the message.

God Doesn't Suffer From Mood Swings

Are you a believer in Christ Jesus?
Then believe correctly.
God doesn't hate you sometimes, then love you sometimes and then doesn't know how he feels about you at other times.
God Loves you ALWAYS. Regardless of what may be happening around you.
And He wants you to have a good life.
Jesus already paid in full for this abundant life.
Seize it.
Enjoy it.
Insist on it.

Religion is the Enemy

Before I say anything, I should say this: I used to be a very religious person.

But now, for me there’s almost nothing as repulsive as this: religion. By ‘Religion’ here I mean a ritualistic, legalistic conception of God and worship which always reveals itself, in those who have it, as judgemental, arrogant, sanctimonious, closed-minded, hypocritical and outright annoying.

It is religion that has got some Muslims blowing up cities and wreaking dastardly havoc in ‘holy’ jihad as a means to heaven where it is claimed scores of eager virgins await them. It is religion that has had Christians execute violence on lesbians and homosexuals in a bid to defend their faith and stamp out the ‘abomination’.

Because I believe and worship Jesus, I will here focus on Christian ‘religion’ and how irritating it is. You meet someone for the first time and in less than three minutes they have said ‘God bless you’ ‘we bless God, and ‘it is well’, almost half a dozen times all unsolicited and often needless. As a personal note, I never take such people seriously. Not even as serious Christians.

Christian ‘religion’ is a sin hunter always searching for, pointing fingers and detecting ‘new’ sins in people. Many of our pulpits play host to men and women very experienced and well versed in the art of filthy rags. I speak of the art of self righteousness. They preach more of what THEY do, how much THEY pray, fast, give thanks, praise, etc, to get results and they rarely ever talk of what Jesus our Christ has already done for ALL OF US on that sinner’s cross He endured, which really is the fountain and source of EVERY result/blessing we will ever get.

It is such religious Christians who instruct the polygamous man who receives Christ in a polygamous state and joins their church to discard his other legally married wives and maintain only the first. Please if your pastor is like that, ask them to show you where that is in the Bible. It is such people who say there are no genuinely saved people in the mainstream entertainment industry (as a pastor of a popular church denomination said to me on my first day of marriage counselling), it is such people who say women/men who wear gold or other jewellery are condemned, it is such people who say those of us who are not teetotallers are committing a sin as some senior pastor friend of mine of the same denomination recently accused me of. I do not advocate drunkenness or irresponsible drinking and guess what, nobody does! Even the ‘world’ abhors drunkenness! But when you say that the very drinking of alcohol is a sin, then you are the sinner because you are a liar! No where does the Bible say that.

You know what I have found out? Mahatma Gandhi was right when he said ‘the whole world would be Christians but for the Christians themselves’. I sincerely believe in the potency of Jesus’ death and resurrection to save the lost, heal all brokenness and addictions and give us eternal life, but we, Christians, have ceased to present Christ’s liberty and salvation, insisting on the proclamation of laws, doctrines and superficial character modification which lands us right in the lap of that thing called religion. 

Religion is a demon and when we let religion possess us, we become the very enemies of the gospel we claim to love.

The Random Musings of A Bored Philosopher

I believe in God.

I believe in my country, Nigeria

I believe Nigeria’s outgoing First Lady was spot on when she wailed ‘There is God o!’

I believe Nigeria is presently not a country many Nigerians are quite proud of, except for a few Martin Luther King Juniors who yet have a dream that ‘one day…’

I believe in creationism. The Universe is too ordered to have begun from a chaos which itself had no cause.

I believe in freewill

I believe much of the evil in our world is because man has this freewill to choose to do good or wreak havoc.

I understand agnosticism and I can relate to it

Atheism, on the other hand, I think is the height of arrogance which of course is ignorance inflated.

I believe in love, romance, you know? That universal stuff that entire music genres are made of?

I believe in living life to the fullest which, for me, means discovering and pursuing that purpose beating inside your chest.

I believe in laughter, loving life and having fun.

And yes I believe sex is fun and it was God’s idea. Yayyy!

Sex, I believe, is most fulfilling (emotionally and spiritually) in the context of marriage (regardless of how many times I have personally done contrary).

And speaking of marriage, I believe it should be between a man and a woman.

By the way, I believe in Jesus as Christ.

Therefore I am CHRISTian.

Yet I believe much of organized Christianity has been, and still is ‘anti’ Christ. E.g. The Crusades, The anti-abortion crusades in America, the violence towards and resentment of gays and lesbians globally, etc.

I believe homosexuality is not just a sin but an abomination before God.

Yet I believe God loves homosexuals, strippers, porn stars, etc, just as much as He loves me.

And who says I can’t have an alcoholic drink because I’m a Christian? I believe it’s the preachers (most of them) who say so. Have you ever wondered why Jesus’ haters called him a ‘winebibber?’  

However, I believe no one (Christian or not) should get drunk or high, or permit themselves to get out of control even if it’s now trendy to be ‘turnt up or what!’

By the way, I believe Korede Bello has a right to praise God.

I believe in one undivided Nigeria.

Handover approaches and the ‘people’s General’ has nothing to fear. Nothing but his four-eyed senior colleague from the state whose name rhymes with palaver.

I believe exciting times are right ahead… 

And I’m excited!

SALUTE TO THE EASTERN SUN

Salute to the eastern sun

Who rose in the west and set in the east.

To she who cast her warmth and shone

On  all- be you from north, east,  west…or south like me.

With piercing creative rays she lit up hearts and homes.

She, for whom filmmaking was a divine call and not a game of thrones.

Salute to the boss.

Who though herself a reservoir of sterling creativity

Recognized what spark there was in us

And walked us through the art of ‘enter-ternity’

You know, that kind of entertainment that echoes through eternity

That which posterity shall esteem in totality and of a certainty…

Her legacy shall reach teach give live… AND THIS IS IMMORTALITY.

In honor of Amaka Igwe (1954-2014)

Hollywood's Sermons

By Osita Egbubine.

It’s amazing how Hollywood binds audiences to the characters in movies. It remains the most stellar and surreal of art forms. Movie directors are able to infuse those characters into our subconscious and we inevitably have such a tryst with them that years on it is impossible to break away. Who could forget Michael in The Godfather and our journey with him as he morphed from naïve young son to god of the mafia? Don’t we all remember our walk with Frodo as he made his way through the middle Kingdoms in the Lord of the Rings? Or Walter Whyte as he moved from victim to victor to villain in Breaking Bad? I would be the first to admit my fragility when it comes to the force of Hollywood’s storytelling.

Consequently, Hollywood has become for me a true source for inspiration in all fields. Neo in The Matrix taught me the power of self-belief, Charlie Simms in Scent of a Woman taught me loyalty, and Michael Glass in Basic Instinct 2 was a perfect physical example of “Let him that stands take heed lest he falls”. What’s not to love about Hollywood? Even scripture is visualisable (and that’s not speaking about the false Noah with Russell Crowe).

One of the finest lessons I have learnt though is the danger of permitting “little” vices. And the most recent example of that is Peter Russo in House of Cards. A fine young Congressman from Philly, Peter has the energy and passion to become the President of the country and yet, he struggles with alcohol and women. At the cusp of his finest moment, he flunks a radio interview as he is inebriated and becomes so broken by the pain he has caused his family that he eventually ends up dead (let me spare you the details). As usual, I am gutted by his death; it seems like I have lost a real friend. How could he not show a bit more discretion the night before a major interview? How could the love of a glass affect his judgment so significantly?

As someone who has known a thing or two about dealing with “little” vices, I can relate to the battle Peter fought and lost so spectacularly. “Little” vices may be permitted by the mediocre soul without much consequence but they are the difference between glory and shame for the one who dreams of greatness. Like little serpents, they do not make their presence known, do not disturb, show up only once in a while and grow in size with every indulgence. From hiding in a corner of the room, they eventually sit behind the door, then they share the bed, then they grow so large until they seize the room. Eventually, they push the subject into the cold and leave that soul weary, alone and wrecked.

There are not many graver errors to be made in a life than to allow these vices have a place in the room. A Hitler-like ruthlessness has to be applied to them. They must be killed at every notice, they must not be allowed to fester, or be granted accommodation. Occasionally, good souls are tempted to think that a small vice may be permitted but that is as safe a ground to stand on as the head of a python. Little vices were Samson’s undoing and Judas’ hell. No soul should suffer them to coexist.

These vices show up in different forms- drugs, alcohol, sex, power, greed, naïveté, sloth, scorn, vulgarity, vengefulness, etc. In fact, if a full life is one that comprises mastery, decency, compassion, worship and graciousness, a vice would be anything that takes away from your capacity to live such a life. What more? They don’t always start off presenting much of a problem. The casual heart will not take note but the watchful soul will soon begin to identify them. The best indicator of a vice is the feeling of helplessness that comes when it craves expression. It is the worst feeling ever, knowing the good to do and being unable to do it. Ultimately, such a path leads on to regret, depression and ill health.

Thankfully, it isn’t a peculiar fight. Most humans fight one or the other and many win. Make no mistakes about it; it is one which in many cases has to be won daily. But victory is possible and a fight against the vice should begin with the knowledge that it can be defeated.

Three simple steps can provide the support needed for an effective fight:

Talk to Someone- A confidant would be great, preferably someone with a bit more experience on life, either by reason of their age or vocation; or simply someone who is important to you. Sharing the challenge is a critical first step to winning. Because of the relationship between you and this person, you are better able to 

weather the storm and commit.

Take Responsibility- There is nothing more frustrating than an uncommitted soul. Dealing with a vice means standing up daily and ensuring you don’t get beat. It means building an atmosphere that supports your goal; it means devising strategies to nullify the impulses. The creation of the right atmosphere would more often than not simplify the task. How exhausting would it be to try to deal with an alcohol vice by hanging out at the bar every day?

Focus on the goal- As important as strategies are, they are not sufficient enough motivation. The goal has to be the motivation. Imagine having no skeletons in the cupboard, a life free of pesky flies that leave you going nuts; Imagine being in the driver’s seat, living the full life, having none of your free will or power taken away from you; Imagine being in peace with all men, insofar as lies with you of course; imagine having the grace to be able to seize every opportunity, extend kindness to every human being, shine in every situation. If that sounds good to you, then let that be the motivation.

Life’s vices are myriad. They have stolen the dream of many men and women and left them in tatters. No human should have to fall to these. By finding a partner in your fight, being firm and responsible about dealing with them; and focusing on the goal, everyone can get the snakes out. And whatever happens, it is worth remembering that a heartfelt confession to heaven of a stumble is all it takes to get back on the road to victory.

My friend Peter Russo is gone but I am sure the grief will last only as long as it takes to hear Hollywood’s next story. 

The Other Son

By Osita Egbubine

Jesus was quite the storyteller. His stories, in the form of parables were full of wisdom and wit. The gospels are replete with these stories of human strength and weakness, wisdom and foolishness, mercy and spitefulness. His stories cover the full length of the human condition. And yet, as profound as these stories are for bedtime and sermons, they are not always easy on the mind.

The parable of the prodigal son is one such example. Told masterfully in Luke 15, the story highlights three central characters and a particularly indiscreet servant. A young son wakes up one morning and decides that his Father’s house isn't exciting enough for his appetites so he asks for his portion of the inheritance and veers off into the Wild West where he spends his all, prodigally of course, until he becomes so wasted he feeds with swine. He comes to his senses at some point and returns to his Father who welcomes him with open arms and throws a feast in celebration. 

The older son, who has served his Father’s house dutifully all these years, returns from another day’s hard work and hears the music, stops in his tracks, calls a servant and asks what the noise is about. The servant tells him of his brother’s return and in an apparently mischievous attempt to rub salt on this older brother's hurting heart, he mentions the elaborate planning that the Father had put in to organizing this party. Broken, the older son refuses to go in and has to be met by the Father outside the house where the Father explains why the party had to hold.

As with each of Jesus’ parable, there is a lesson to be learned about the workings of God’s Kingdom. This parable highlights the message of Grace that is the hallmark of the Kingdom. It shows that the most lost amongst us can return home and find hands and hearts ready to receive and celebrate. There is no one too lost to be redeemed or too filthy to be embraced. That was the lesson we learned in Sunday school. 

As I grew older however, the parable seemed to bring me more questions than answers as my attention turned away from the younger son to the older one. It was impossible to not relate to his pain. He must have felt really saddened by the fact that he had never gotten as much attention and pleasure from his Father as his younger brother did that day. He had never dissed his father’s house, never wasted his Father’s resources and yet he had not enjoyed half as many benefits as his brother enjoyed on the day. I could see him crying outside, wondering if his years of service were worth it, if he would not have been better off doing what the younger son did. I could see me standing outside with him, walking with him through his motions of despair, telling him not to feel so distraught, while at the same time lost as to why the “good” son seemed to be the one on the losing end.

We all can see ourselves as one of these two sons at one point or the other. When we are the younger son, we are thrilled that we can always go back home and find mercy. When we are the older, we wonder why the Father’s mercy is so lavish. We are thrilled that when we stumble and fall, the Father’s hand is there to lift us up. We are saddened that another person seems to know an even greater level of mercy when they return home. We lie and are glad when we are forgiven on confession, yet we wonder why the thief is pardoned when he also repents. We commit fornication in our minds and ask mercy yet we wonder why the serial womanizer is so graciously pardoned when he repents. Therein is the mystery of grace which is able to lift the vilest offender and offend the noblest being. To enjoy grace without becoming bitter at another beneficiary or the benefactor, we must realise that it is God’s gift and it is His prerogative to dish it out as He deems fit. This is also the message from another parable- the parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew 20).

Now, more troubling for me was that when I looked at both sons, I could see myself more in the older son. Some people will never be riotous, rebellious or an offence. They love the Father and His house too much to drift away into the realms of flagrant, profane living. They, like the psalmist, would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. And yet, they occasionally feel as though those who are unfaithful are the winners. However, they don’t really lose anything by being in the Father’s house. We know this because He tells us that “in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore”. It means then that there are no pleasures or joys to be enjoyed without His courts that cannot be enjoyed even more so within. How then, can those who remain faithful to the Father’s house not feel as though they have missed out on something exciting on the other side? How can they share in the joy when the lost return home and not feel threatened or short-changed?

There is another character in the story. He is the one I’d like to call The Other Son. Unlike all the other characters, He isn't in the story. He tells the story. He is Jesus, the First Son, who typifies the right relationship we should have with the Father and his other sons. Jesus didn't just serve the Father, he knew the Father. He understood the heartbeat of the Father; it was a beat for every one that was made in His image and likeness. He knew that the Father was not pleased that his creation was being lost daily to the enemy so he offered himself to be the one who brought the lost back home. By knowing the Father’s heart and offering himself to bring the Father’s deepest desires to pass, he has made a way for more lost sons to come back home, brought joy to the Father’s heart, and consequently obtained a status far greater than can be imagined. So he can not feel threatened by the other sons who come in nor can he be sad when the Father throws a party for each returning son. In fact, each returning son is another stone on his crown, another medal on his neck, another plaque in his cabinet. The Other Son is Greatness personified. And what’s more, he has offered us a chance to share in his greatness.

God’s kingdom has a hierarchy and the greater ones are those who serve others. True service in the Father’s Kingdom is impossible without knowledge of His heart. Had the older son paid attention to the Father’s heartbeat, he would have realised that his Father longed for his lost son and loved him with an unconditional love. And because love always speaks in actions, this older son could have embarked on a search for his lost brother and brought him home. His joy would have been magnified by the Father’s joy and he would have received a great crown for his works. 

Grace lets us into His presence; our acts of love in service enable us stand out there. We can share in Jesus’ greatness by continuing to serve God’s people, which is everyone by the way, in whatever way we can.

The quandary this story had me in is resolved now that I know that I lose nothing by staying faithful to His house. I can also look beyond the story to the storyteller to learn how I can stand tall in my Father’s house and partake, with joy, of every celebration that takes place when the lost ones return home. I am not like either of the sons in the story. I am like The Other Son.

Osita Egbubine is a lover of humankind. A certified international accountant/auditor, he likes to think of himself simply as a Son of God. He wrote in from the United Kingdom. You may follow him on Twitter @ositane.

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