Dominion… Everyday Jesus

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Dominion physically speaking means equilibrium; and by equilibrium, forces must be involved. According to Genesis 5: 1&2, the NIV Bible says: this is the written account of Adam’s line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man” ( ie adam in Hebrew).

Dominion is when man ( male and female joined together), face the lion, soar like the eagle, rule the ox and plants his feet on the serpent. This is dominion.

Can two work together unless they agree? The thug of war between male and female must cease so that “man” might have dominion. The male must cease to be dominating and the female must not be controlling.

 By Favouromeje; September 2017.

Everyday Jesus: what is Dominions

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The Hebrew word for dominion radar means subduing,ruling. Circumstances in life tend to subdue us instead of the other way around. We forget who we are,what we have,what we are made for and roll with the tides. 

Fear and anxiety are meant to be subdued and ruled. Most often than not,we let circumstances determine who we are and how much we exhibit our God given authority.

 Fear and anxiety are mere faceless faces that pop up while trying to achieve,acquire and fulfil one’s dreams. 

We have all it takes to overcome them,to rule and subdue them. 

Know that we are more than  conquerors and that we can do all things through Christ that strengthens u .

By Mitchell Okonicha; September 2017.

Everyday Jesus does not Promote Mediocrity

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Christianity has celebrated mediocrity to the point that I now feel that Christians can’t be more than mediocres.

They burden me with how wonderful the choir of saints in heaven would be 

Then give me a hay’ven cacophony to soot my soul

Deeply longing for a good music.

They tell me that it’s the heart I sang with that mattered

Forgetting Martha and her service

They want me to stop listening to melodies the so-called sons of Lucifer made

Yet travel the same circle of shouting, pouting the name of Jesus

As though the dissonance their producer made could

Be made whole by the name

( Jesus has a mighty name we know).

But hiding under the tent that you are shouting Jesus

Disturbing the peace of my ear drums; would never turn salt water fresh.

They are inspired by the holy Spirit

But never have they tried to inspire their talent…

At least by getting more than vocal training.

Few names have decided not to follow their lead.
Christians have told me to drop my goals at the alter

To never mind how good or bad my academic performance is.

They told me that all that mattered is Christ having an expression in me

As I seat leisurely in my seating room praying and studying the Bible alone

While Chinese that know little of him develop the fastest computers

And Indians showcasing their literati on YouTube

As they flood us with tutorials on virtually all spheres of knowledge.

They told me that all am meant to offer YouTube is Just Jesus through his words

No need to mention things that are of no heavenly values.
They said I should not have my pastime with romance and fantasy novels

Yet only have ages old Francine Rivers’ and a hand full of few other good writers to

Present to me.

They expect me to read Paradise Lost till I become born again again

Then push Paradise Regained as soon as the deed is done

But have no new poets outside the Americans that I barely hear 

To quench my taste

(Christ will quench my taste they say)

They would make me an outcast for reading The Da’Vinci Code

Call me demonised for reading Inferno

Make me feel that I have no sense of direction for reading Ellen Hilderland’s

And expect me to patronise their poorly depicted last super

Which they have decided to leave as bland as it has always been.
They told me nothing else matters except singing in heaven

Leaving with the the assumption that I would end up useless in heaven.
They told me that leaving my name on the sand of time like Naymar 

Is worthless

But still recount the stories of David and Goliath

Forgetting that it was the goal-ie-heart

Of David that made the story there.
Dear Christian,

You are called to be more than this poorly edited version of yourself that you have kept at.

Look around you and maybe I would have no need trying to convince you that he, whom you serve is perfection…

So, be ye perfect like him

© Symolean

Book Review: The Pilgrim’s progress By John Bunyan

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AUTHOR: JOHN BUNYAN 

PUBLISHER: CHRISTIAN CLASSICS ETHEREAL LIBRARY

REVIEWER: IFIOKABASI OKOP

John Bunyan is one of a host of classic Christian writers (part of a group that includes Dante Algehieri and C. S Lewis). The Pilgrim’s Progress is one of the most significant works in Christian literature and has been translated into more than two hundred language. It has been identified as an allegory which, as an extended version of a metaphor, is a narrative technique that uses fictional characters, events or places to represent real situations and in this case, the Christian journey. 

The Pilgrim’s Progress is divided into two parts which tell the story of a man’s progress in search of salvation and eternal life. It is narrated by an omniscient narrator who sees all he narrates in a dream. The first part documents Christian’s revelation and decision to leave his home town, City of Destruction, to embark on a journey to the Celestial City. His journey to the Celestial City can be likened to the Christian race. Christian’s salvation is portrayed as the falling off of a burden from his back into the tomb where a cross is locates. He faces persecution in the valley of the shadow of Death where he loses his friend, Faithful. When his journey becomes tiresome, an easy path appears. This path represents false doctrines that lead people to destruction. He eventually escapes from there and continues on the true path which leads him to the Celestial City. There, he is received by the King into eternal life.

The second part narrates the decision of Christiana, Christian’s wife to join him in the Celestial City alongside their children. They are mocked by their neighbours because of the decision Christiana makes. They embark on the journey and go through similar experiences to Christian’s from the reproach at the City of Destruction to the Cross and the tomb where they are saved. They climb the Hill of Difficulty and at House Beautiful, Matthew, Christiana’s son is healed with a purge made of the blood and body of Christ. This represents the healing power of Jesus Christ. Their guide, Great Heart defends the travelling party against danger and points out to Christiana places where Christian had significant encounters. The journey is portrayed as a lifelong one as the children grow up and get married while on the journey. They all make it to the Celestial City and are received by the King.

This book portrays the difficulties and struggles christians face in their lives and the joy and happiness they will experience in Christ. Almost every moral struggle we encounter in our lives is somehow allegorized, whether in Christian’s own journey or in encounters that others tell him about. Christian is tempted by Mr. Worldly Wisdom and Despair while his friend Faithful has to get past Wanton. Every person has different strengths and weaknesses, and every Christian is encouraged by Bunyan to follow and study the Lord personally, and not compare oneself to other Christians, who have different experiences. Christian does not become perfect as he grows; sometimes he becomes proud because of his knowledge and displays an arrogant attitude towards others. He makes mistakes and learns from them. The novel has good ebb and flow as is depicted in the ups and downs of the Christian race. There are periods of rest after trials and temptations which arise after victories.

The Pilgrim’s Progress is an engaging and didactic read. There are complex, detailed sections of theological discussion which may seem boring. Warren Wiersebe’s notes help in better understanding of the book. He explains difficult words, themes and scriptural references in the book. Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is definitely a good read for every Christian.

Everyday Jesus with Lion(An Interview)

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Hey! Pleased to meet you, I’m Panthera Leo.

You’re perplexed I see, but please I beg you; do not look on me with a stranger’s eyes for though physically we have obvious disparities, we share some attributes.
I’ll tell you about me.
One, I have an unmistakable presence of nobility. It is not masked and I saw you noticed when you entered the park. I command respect even in my calmest state. I do not need to announce myself, my nature announces itself. Others think that I am feared because I am a ‘predator’ (I like to think of myself as just a gentle guy that hustles for his food…whatever food that is), but I know that isn’t true; I’m Leo because of my nature and I don’t have to put up some ‘act’.

I tripped over there and fell. Other folks fled. It would have been suicidal for them to stay around and glee and this is because I don’t stay down too long. My ‘mess ups’ do not excite my enemies much…they believe it’s part of the plan…”C’mon it’s Leo involved!” They say.
Two, there is this unruffleness and kingly calmness about me that is totally incomprehensible to the other folks. 

I thrive in danger not because I do not face what the others face. My nature is positively projected in the gravest danger and I’m committed not to miss my opportunities.

I do not talk or walk in anxiety. I’m in the spotlight and I won’t ever walk out of harmony with who I am. 

When faced with challenges, I just remember who I am and I let the world know it.
Finally, I envy you because You’re all these and more! The gap between us reaches to the heavens!

But I seem to be doing better. This is because I ALWAYS keep who I am in mind. You’re ALWAYS off and on but I’ve been committed to remembering who I am. 

Borrow this leaf from me.

Hi again, I’m Panthera Leo but you can call me LION.

By Ruth Ogbuabor, September 2017.

Memoir of A Religious Girl

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Source: Memoir of A Religious Girl

I held my head firmly with two hands as though I was trying to keep my head which appeared to be under the attack of atomic bomb, (type that greeted Hiroshima “welcome to a new world” during the world war), from falling apart.
My father busied himself wondering what on earth he should do. Money seemed to be a rare commodity at the time. It was in the time that Buhari paddle the canoe of our nation. I could see myself torn between life and death. The yearning to live longer and the cry to be liberated from this torment even if death is the answer, I would not mind. I was at that point where willingness to do anything to regain comfort could not be compromised. I felt like praying. But the last time I prayed before then is a subject we will discuss maybe when am strong enough to face the shame. I wished God should hear the cry of my heart. He hears our hearts cry, doesn’t he?
I felt that I was quietly losing trip life. I could feel right within me the host of heaven singing with a smile a welcome home song. I was not ready for such a feast.
That was when he came in. He could see my father sweating out his own life. He could hear my groaning. I guess he was confused just like my father too. He opted to pray for me, then stopped as though a memory flashed. Turned to my father and said, “the angels said that we should pour cold water on her”. My father was a quicker believer. What do you expect when money is not a commodity at our disposal? It is better to do something than to fold hands and watch your daughter join your ancestors in the work they do. That must have been his conclusion. He ran to the deep freezer that stood at the dark corner of his store and pulled out a bag of satchet water. He baptised me, I mean he that heard the angels. My father joined him. Soon enough, they proved that he really heard the angels. My predicament worsened. My breathing paced up. He changed the story immediately. He could not bear having my death tagged to him. He “reheard” the angels again. My father was almost flying in panic. He was in a worse state than I was; at least I had only death facing me but he, my father had more, regret must have been another side of the coin.
He told my father he actually did not hear the angels clearly. He had a new tale. The angels wants my father to invite the local drug store owner. My father could afford that just like the cold water too. My father rushed out to call this new tool the angels said would restore my health but when he came, the look on his face suggested that he was in no mood to be blacklisted as a murderer. He told my father to take me to a hospital which he did.
A week later, I saw he who hears the angels and he had more tales. The angels said that I was hiding something and I have a short time to live. I was depressed but thanks to my cousins, I now know that his brain was actually the angels.

Everyday Jesus Gives us Choices

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CHOICES

With birth, the start to all life, all things

We, from a biparental picture

Made in God’s image and with man’s nature

We inherit their genes and their sins
The lamb becomes a sheep, the cub a lion

Growth is sure, maturity may come

But we always have His grace to rely on

Our lives under watch: for time will tell

Like quarantine in an epidemic

The virus is sin; Satan the vector

The cure is salvation; Christ, the doctor
The green of fresh plants

The pale as petals wither

Sweet melodies of chirping birds

Painful maladies from poison dreads

Stillness and tranquil of soothing eves

Unrest and discord which a panic gives

Two sides to every coin, our choices comprehend

Everlasting life or death in the end

© Erudite 2017

​Everyday experiences may not be Everyday Jesus

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You are owing God if you don’t pay tithes and there are dire consequences to be paid, the preacher man said. So the next week I calculated 10 percent of the amount I have made monthly since I started working and ran to the church to pay it. I was indignantly moved by how I thought I had annoyed God. I couldn’t have that. It was a pretty big chunk of money to me. The next month I got a call that was a game changer. As a result of the call, I started getting paid without working. I had stopped work to go back to school. I was paid for the previous months that was skipped and the money never stopped coming. Yes! Imagine that! 

That must have been as a result of my tithing right? 

So I went to church and testified and brethren were so moved i’m sure they started tithing too for returns. I would use that experience to preach at all times to show people how real God is. It was working for me. I got a study scholarship. God’s faithfulness was lit! But something happened along the line. I stopped tithing at a particular time.
I stopped because I wanted to see if God was in the business of trade by barter. Was I supposed to give the church money to avert mourning? Was it an eye for an eye? The rain didn’t cease for me, a reaper while it fell for sowers. Even Jack the ripper had the blessing of both sunshine and rain.
I can’t be dictated to, how much to give monthly or annually and to whom, because i’m no longer under siege. After the ‘undertaker’ took the power of the law of sin and death and buried it under the law of the spirit of life I waltz through life without misunderstanding my stand in the kingdom of God. Turned out my blessings weren’t as a result of my tithing.
But I started experiencing breakthroughs immediately after I started tithing! True. However, my experiences doesn’t define how God works nor who he is. Old covenants doesn’t apply to believers. It’s like carrying a yoke someone already told you not to worry about. 
That I met a man that married me after nights of vigils, when I stopped wearing jewelries and started tying my ears alongside with my hair doesn’t mean God prefers nuns to other ladies that do not conform. No! Don’t confine God’s personality in that manner.
God’s person is only revealed in the scripture. A doctrine can only be established through the word of God. Halt those teachings relating to what you call your walk with christ if it doesn’t conform to the liberty we have in christ Jesus. 

  • ChyD