...no going back

The die is cast. My mind is made up. I have burnt the bridge behind me. There is no going back. I have thought about it long and hard - I am better off with my new decision. Whatever is past, stays in the past. It is a new beginning. Veering from my decision is out of the question. With God on my side, I shall stay the course.

A man says to a little boy, "You stole my apples; you thief!" The boy replies, "It depends on what you mean by the word, 'stole'" "You took my apples without my authorization." "I see," replies the boy, "Just like you took Mrs. Jacobs without her husband's authorization." Astonished, the man replies, "Looks like we are both responsible thieves." "I thought as much, comrade," says the boy.

The world is yet to see the defeat of a man who turns every disappointment into a learning experience, every failure into progress, every fear into advance…and whose every motive and action is God-honouring.

The pastor shouts excitedly from the pulpit, "Tell your neighbor, 'I can do all things.'" The church goes wild. The service over, a 12-year old walks over to the pastor, congratulates him on the great sermon, and then asks, "Pastor, when will you stop giving undue attention to the rich members of the church?" "I can't. They pay the bills." "I thought you can do all things!" "Yes, but..."

Challenged, he gave up. Afraid, he quit. Overwhelmed, he idled away. He killed himself by installments, dashing hopes and frittering away opportunities. With his own hand, he wrote an epitaph on his grave: THIS MAN WAS TOO SCARED TO LIVE.

A man rushes to God saying, "I need your help right now!" To which God replies, "I need your help too." "You've got to hear me first, Lord." After hours of complaints and requests, he finally says to God, "And what's it you say you want from me?" God replies, "Nothing. Not anymore."

Says a boy to his dad. "Dad, praise is when I come to you with no requests, though I have plenty of them. I just revel in the knowledge that you are dad. That's all. I fall into your arms and forget the worries of life. Dad, should I tell you a secret?" "Yes son." "Praising you makes me aware of your presence and power. It seems to make you come through for me." "Didn't you say you wanted a new PlayStation?"

A man says to his friend, "My life is a night - a bleak night. I am worried." "Then rejoice," the friend replies, "The darker the night the more glorious the day." The man is not convinced. "So, what should I be doing now?" The friend replies, "Use the cover of the night to prepare for the day. See yourself like a pianist in hiding, preparing for the Big Show." "It is not easy, friend." "Success is not easy."

I take one look at the challenge and say, "it is impossible." I then look up to Heaven and say, "it can be done." Finally, I look inside of me and say, "let's do it."

He rides roughshod on me, flagrantly denying me of my rights. He takes me to the cleaners, openly rejoicing at my pains. He wonders at my positive attitude and my enduring grace. In his shortsightedness, he fails to see the real power in display. He fails to see the power of patience; the enduring power to bear all things -the power that wears out the arrogant and turns a bully into a villain.

They call it fate. I call it an opportunity that meets with the right preparation. They call it luck. I call it what you get when you work so hard and believe so much. They call it success at last. I call it the success you have always had that others have not noticed until now.

"What is influence?", asks the teacher. An 8-year old replies, "Influence is when you don't talk and yet your words fill the room. You are absent and yet your presence is felt everywhere." "Good," applauds the teacher. "Now everyone," screams the teacher. "Take out your Math book. I am talking to you. Are you deaf?" The 8-year old looks at the teacher and says, "Now, that was not influence."

Disillusioned, I gave up the search for the elusive "glorious future". Instead, in concert with God, I built my life on hope and soon developed a vision that was greater than me. I packed into each day passion, faith and perseverance. I forgot about the future and made the most of each day. One day, I took stock of mylife and discovered the "glorious future had arrived the day I gave up the search.

It was not to be. I tried so long and hard. I gave it all i could. I prayed much, hoped much, believed much. I must admit I have lost this one. But when has losing become a disadvantage? Afterall, the world's greatest winners are also the most accustomed to losing. Let no one think less of me because I have lost. I have only lost the battle. The war is still very much on. And by my God, I will win.

I thought I knew everything until I listened to others. I thought I was the best until I gave others a chance. Then I thought I was insignificant until I listened to others commend my words and actions. It seems no one sees himself except through a reflection. I have resolved to be a mirror reflecting the best in others, and hoping that others will do the same for me.

He is a foolish man who resists new knowledge, avoids new experience, and frustrates those who don't. His life ends before he lives it; in the dustbin of history. .

They died like chicken. Their only crime being they were from a wrong race and a wrong tribe. Mostly women and children caught in the fire of the invaders' guns and their matchets' merciless cuts. Endless wailings on the Plateau. Anger and frustrations in the land. But soon, we will forget the pain as if it never happe...

I am stupid. I accept. It takes stupidity, utter stupidity, to stick to rules that make for a decent society. I refuse to litter the streets, bribe the police, or pay more for official services or documents. I do not create a 3rd lane on a 2-lane road. I stop at the red light, for sure, and give the right of way to the first driver to reach a junction. And too bad, I pay taxes. I am really stupid.

...the DRAMA

I am pondering. The HOUSE of TROUBLE is many miles a way in the wilderness, but humans are beating their paths through the thick forest to reach it. Certain utterances and decisions from the Nigerian seat of government are an invitation to TROUBLE. And when TROUBLE comes, the current actors will be the first to flee the scene to a safe haven. I am pondering...I am praying...I am hoping.

He says not to worry, and I say, "Worry? Not me. I am only concerned." He says to cast my burden on Him, and I say, "Lord, watch me carry it in Your strength." He says not to fear, and I say, "I am not afraid, I am only apprehensive." He says, "My peace I leave with you." And I say, "No, thanks. I'll rather stick with mine. " And when I lose the battle of life, I blame God.

Afraid, I just move on. Fear is a launching pad to my lifting. It is the first obstacle to overcome on my way up; the constant companion on the way to my dream; and the last enemy to defeat just before I lift the trophy. And because what I fear most happen to me, I choose my fear. I fear success and just go ahead to succeeed. Fear has lost its dread. It is the turn of fear to be afraid.

"It is well." How often we say that without meaning it! And how often we mean it without saying it! Clichés are once powerful words or statements whose meaning and power we have lost through flippant usage. "Praise the Lord." "I am good." "I am strong." Should we stop using these clichés because of overuse or should we bring back their power through conscious usage? What do you think?

History is made when we stand for something, noble enough and long enough. The tide is turned when we believe in God, strongly enough and persistently enough. Our contribution is defined by where and how we stand, and who and how we believe.

It is springtime in Chicago. The snow has abated, leaving behind a heart-warming weather. The windy city harbours strong memories for me. It amazes me how green Chicago is - a testimony that comerce and environment can coexist. I look forward to breathing your cold and clear air for the next couple of days. And please snow, stay away; come again another time.

Dressed up like a doll, we present the face we want people to see. Our outward appearance is clothed in fine linen, while our heart remains dark and unattractive. Reputation is what we want people to believe about us; Integrity is who we really are. Between Integrity and Reputation is a big gulf of lies, and a keg of gunpowder waiting to explode.

The place of prayer puts me squarely in the Court of God, where the rules are different from the Court of Man. In God's Court, there is justice in the ambience of love. And when I am caught in the wrong side of justice, Mercy and Grace - two friends of the Court - spring to their feet in my defence. With Faith and Patience as my lawyers, I can ask the IMPOSSIBLE and do the UNTHINKABLE.

Hawaii carries its own feeling. A lovers' haven. A tourist destination of choice. A tropical climate in the middle of the Pacific. You feel rested even after 10 hours of flights from Chicago. Your wife seated right beside you in a rental car, you say, "Life is good." Then you remember you will be teaching communicationclasses to 45 Christian leaders from 22 countries, and you say, "God is able."

Whenever the devil tries to unsettle me, I say, "No, you can't! I am DTB - Delivered, Transferred and Beyond your reach. Because Col 1:3 (Amplified) says, '[The Father] has delivered and drawn (me) to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred (me) into the kingdom of the Son of His love.'" I discover the devil can handle anything except the Truth.

The starting block is usually filled with eager runners. They blast off from the block full throttle. Midway, they have reasons to move to another race, beginning with another enthusiastic start. And on and on. The result - Great starts, multiple races, no finishes. An unfinished project is like a pregnancy that is aborted midterm because of morning sickness. So, I start and I finish.

Stepping Out. Daring Big. Pushing The Limits. I have nver been more convinced no man or woman gets to touch the hem of suceess without taking a leap in the dark. The Darkness of Hidden Opportunities only answers to the Light of Daring Faith. Hello Darkness; here comes my Light.

He never gives up on me. I stumble many times along the learning journey. I repeat classes from time to time. Yet, He never gives up on me. He is a persevering and loving teacher. I once asked Him why He had been so enduring with me. His reply: Whatever you have seen me do, do it to others. I said, "Lord, people can really be difficult". "just like you," He replied.

"Keep your eyes on the ball," says the father to his academically weak son.. The son hurries to pick his football and starts gazing at it. "i don't mean that, dummy. You need to exercise yourself more rigorously." Few minutes after, the boy is panting breathlessly from exercise. Dad laughs. "You are insane." Thinking it is a compliment, the boy replies, "Thanks dad, it runs in the family

Every sickness makes me remember those who are sick on a perpetual basis. Every lack forces me to remember the poor, to whom lack is a common feature. Every embarrassing fall reminds me of those who have fallen prostate, waiting endlessly for someone like me to help pull them up. In each of the cases, I forget my situation. It pales into insignificance compared to others'.