My Life in Red and White

I remember watching a TV drama where a lady said, "some names can open doors, some names can open windows; your's can't open a burglary proof (padlock)!" I have seen people react to name dropping, I've seen people drop names and others are clueless as to the effect it should have. Coming from my Nigerian background 'do you know who I am?' is a question asked by anyone or everyone and its aim is to elicit fear or reverence. Whether or not this works is a different issue. Back to the matter, what is in a name? I've heard that one of the first difficult tasks of parenting is naming a child. Some parents spend months deciding on the name of the child, some argue, fight ... may the best man win. And God forbid that the child grows up and decides to change the name. So what's in a name? Strength? Character? does it sum up who you are? For years i lived without reflecting my names... and a lot of thought went into my parents naming me (i'd l...

"Now stand here quietly before the Lord as I remind you of all the good things He has done for you and your ancestors" 1 Samuel 12:7 It is important to remember where the Lord has brought us from. It is important to remember our journey with Him. The miracle of salvation, deliverance from darkness into his marvelous light, that is made possible only through faith in Jesus Christ. The miracles in our journey with him. The great deliverance, the little blessings ... the many times He held our hands and walked with us through the valley of the shadow of death. the many times He led us through green pastures... the many times he provided streams in the desert... the times when we met with the rod of correction and the times of the staff of comfort. It is important to remember in silence. Quieting the many distractions that exist around us. legitimate they may be but seeking to choke out our relationship and time with the Father. it is important to sit quietly and remember. ...

"And a certain man of  k the sons of the prophets said to his fellow  l at the command of the  Lord , “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.  36  Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the  Lord , behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall strike you down.”  And as soon as he had departed from him,  m a lion met him and struck him down.  37  Then he found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him."  I Kings 20:35 - 37 Disobedience has some deadly consequences... who knows what next step in disobedience might lead to irreversible consequences? 1 Kings 20 tells of  a man who was asked by a prophet to strike him - at the word of the Lord. The man didn't and it resulted in death. I read a quote recently 'let me not die while i'm still alive' and I wondered the meaning of this.  Disobedience leads sometimes to physical ...

Please make us promises you won't fulfill,  We are stupid.  Please tell us lies,  We are deaf.  Please make us reason, not with our heads but with our hearts. Please bind our emotions into jumbled cords, We won't sort them out.  Please lead us, We are blind.  Please take the fall,  We stand blameless.  Make our choices, make our children 'choiceless'.  We will stand, bow, aloof in prayers. We will tell of how we have been deceived.  We will tell of how we have been raped.  We will tell of how we were left without a choice.  We will tell of our bravery and courage.  Of lightning fires and aiming stones.  Of burning tires and shooting bullets. Of cutlasses and machetes; and daggers and broken bottles. Of blood and courage; and tears and sorrows.  Of how we were deceived. But we will never speak,  ...