A tale of compassion and faith

Penspeak Communities across Nigeria have recently taken up Freestyle Fridays hosted by The Godzniel. This is a collection of poems from Penspeak Community UNEC freestyles in January 2025.

From the watchtower, Iruoma cried out:

I am compassion, a gentle breeze
That calms a raging soul and quiets pain to freeze
I run in obscurity, yet understanding I seek
To heal a silent wound that mouth can’t utter

Like flower that blooms in desert oasis
So am I, a savour taste to the broken soul
I’m a badge of mercy, worn by one who’s torn
An irresistible gentle word, that calms a storm

I see beyond the fist, the anger and pain
And serve a feast of kindness, to wash the heart’s deep stain
I’m a dose of hope, that keeps each day aglow
A beacon of light, in the darkest place I go

I am compassion, I offer listening ears
Pay attention and owe no debt to negligence
I am the greatest gift to humanity
The loudest voice of love
I walk enduring miles
Leaving trails of smiles

Taking the wheel again, Iruoma launched:

With heart swift and low on  paths unknown
I plead to listen to the quiet whisper, that binds me whole
With convictions strong on choices made

I plead to heed the persistent voice of truth
With barns so enriched, and yards full of glittering gold
I pray to harvest, with mind full of sight

To sift grain from chaff, and separate truth from false
And with each step to embark, a journey of uncertainty
I pledge to trust the gentle guide

For He’s the spirit of the divine, with mysteries to unveil
He grants a sense of immortality, in the stillness, a peaceful knowing of secrets untold.
And moments to disobey in doubt, are times to will in regret

Not wanting the momentum to die out, Neche Goodnews took the baton on the relay:

 “Wish upon a shooting star and make your wish come true”
Senior said to me as we stared at the night sky
“So, make the wish”, he said to me as I was beholding the awe of the star littered sky
I close my eyes and make my wish and open my eyes into the present
A decade had gone by but I still reminisce the days gone by
I fasten up my tie while facing the mirror

What a decade it has been
Peril and strife fought their way into my world but I persevered
The psychological breaks and lapses chipped away at my very soul but I didn’t derange
As I go towards my bag, a thought enters my mind and a smile is found on my face
“Your wish is profound and pure, its impact, ground shaking, all I might not see it actualised but I can behold its potential”
Senior said to me, that was one of our last conversations
“It’s no time to slack, the world will soon be in awe”
I say as I take my bag and leave my place

People see the outcome of reality
I behold a future of possibilities
My wish would ensure that
Until then, I carry on

See you next month!

Authors:
Iruoma
Neche Goodnews

Template

Hi there, Gods masterpiece. Hope your day is going really great. I’m sure it would get even better as we ride through this together. This particular Friday was fire – Holy fire.

Date: 6th of September, 2024.
Our able host GodzNiel introduced the Topic: TEMPLATE. And then, it rained – heavy.

The captain Godswill Ezeonyeka gathered the clouds with this:
Jesus lived life like a lesson
With skin and bones he wrote everlasting message
The 12 testified to His throne and testing
History is witness to the first God-man person


After a few minutes, the amazing Imani Nnaemeka M. came in with this piece:
The first God-man
I have contemplated not once or twice of His concept of freedom.
I consider it wise that His rhythms are unforced yet instructive for life.
I am learning to let go quicker these days, it’s vital for motion.

Death has existed for decades, yet still shocks when it stings.
A reminder of the finite state of our mortal body and time here.
A pull and quickening towards destiny for those with the template.
One that comes with intimacy and an open heart. A daily death.
I have contemplated not once or twice of His concept of freedom.
And I consider it wise that His concept is dynamic yet instructive for life.


She continued…

Template guides design but you only get to see through the colour of light shone.
What lens do you see from?
What eye are you using, the good eye or bad?
It always comes down to perspective and relativity but the heart’s intent is always laid bare,
And what it mirrors visible for all to see, open to be captured in history books by men, for men.
Let your light so shine before men, is a call to own his light in you and lit up the path for others.
Being changed into the same image from glory to glory, is an invitation for transformation.
The quality of the believer’s life is laced with an obedience that tames man’s appetite.



Almost immediately, our beloved Hannah DGinus continued the flow of blessings:
This is the template
Heal the sick
Raise the dead
Care less about diabolic schemes
Just believe

This is the template
Get deep roots
Bear God’s fruit
Bear your burden
Bear another’s burden

This is the template
Give your coat along with your shirt
Go two miles when one mile is demanded
Lend to a brother without interest
Stop looking lustfully for your own interest

This is the template
Man in God’s image and likeness
Man dominating what God created
Man hating sin and loving righteousness
Man punishing all disobedience



Then the phenomenal Ugwu David C. came in with this:
I have always known
That ” I am well able to take the city “

El Shaddai give me undivided heart
And I will be fully persuaded in your unfailing love and power.

Nothing is impossible in my clan.
Don’t you know that am from the Bloodline of Miracles Workers..

We give life to the dead
And call things that are not and they appear.

The sun ☀️ is darkness compared to the light of of my Christ.
Jesus is my king, my light and my lamb.

I am sent here to raise the dead, not to listen to mourners,
Where are the dead show me, let me show forth our signature…

Signs and wonders follows me like disciples
I and my Heavenly Father is one.


Whoooshhh. I know I’m not alone in feeling the power from these words. Hannah DGinus continued:

I am sent to raise the dead, not to listen to mourners

When will this be real in my life?
I have lost five aunties
I have lost brethren to cancer
When can I practically live this bible verse?
When can I look forward to visiting National hospital?
When will my hands touch a grave and the earth shakes?

But Christ is my template
Even if this has not come to be
I will groan until my body is a reflection of him.



Ugwu David C. flowed in immediately with this:
God of the hills,
And God of the valley.
No one knows how old you are, Ancient of days.

Your grace have crowned me envy of the world,
I am blessed in the city, blessed in the country and all over the world.

Armed by your love
I conquer tribes after tribes.
Your Name , your right arm is greatest everlasting sword⚔️

Demons scamper and beg for mercy,
But I promise them none
Praise God, the blind can see, I have brought them new eyes👀

Don’t ask why the lame are dancing,
The gospel has triumphed
Good news have conquered the city

My mother is happy,
I will eat a good meal today,
Peace envelopes my father’s heart
Joy has beautified by wife,
My siblings laughs in God’s comedy
Glory to God forever


Imani Nnaemeka M. came in hot again:
God is good
God is good

He loves me
He loves me

Words I recite when I hear he snatched another.
Death, the only victory we mourn.
Life, the ultimate triumph.
I praise God for giving us the privilege to choose our eternal state.
The gates we unlock here, make all the difference
.

Then from our very own GodzNiel :
Christ is the Template
Sit truth on my plate
You are no longer tied down
Tell the church to wake now
Where are the public edges?
Who wrote your new pledges?
Esau I did hate, but Jacob is despised
The willful will not wait and pride perfumes their disguise

Christ is the template
Lord, Oil me to your taste
Fear attacks my eyes next
Jesus trimmed my excess,
and healed me of my nonsense
Anger bubbles up, when I look across my estate
Talents in the ground, demons meant to seal my fate
But the Lord popped in the dungeon,
He made clay of The Dragon
Yeshua woke me, moulded me, and it is
To meGod who said, ‘Son..

…Christ is still the template.
I am he who writes fate.
Be confident in Truth
Break the bands and come up

I have words for you to speak,
You are mine
The past was not your peak,
I am.
Patience, Love and My Words,
Take your eyes off this World.
You will die the death I choose.
You will not live on the views
Drink my blood and wash your halls
I am the Judge and I am God
Sit down now and write it out.
Cameras were once a dream
I am all you’ll ever need
Edit your fees to fit your feet
Defeat the filth with faith and prayers
Peel back the sins, repent in layers
Don’t wait or beg, I spoke and looked
Son, watch and pray, to me be hooked

Christ is still, the template
It’s folly to repent late
Christ is the template
Obedience trusts in God’s gate
Christ is the template
I just listen and paste


Imani Nnaemeka M. wasn’t stopping till she had us all in Holy flames:
Glory to God forever more
For clothing my spirit with flesh, and crowning me with the power to express His dominion here.
Glory to God forever more
For teaching my feet to dance in storms,
And songs of comfort on rainy days.
Glory to the highest!


GodzNiel came in again:
Prayer call,
I part seas and you see

Prayer call
I made fire and blue sea

Prayer call
Raise a banner and stand firm, my people

Prayer call
Allow them to hate you

No debating, or waiting, the blood is shouting
Down to crises
Drown the pisces, and burn the pieces
Throw away all the unholy practices
Species, without God, bolt their way to extinct
Shun the dark, and tell your beast to obey the King
Which is it?
Alive, we are cups of Him
Alive in Him
Besides Him is death indeed
Faith in Him
The Lord is enough for me
The great E.G.
The Template of Life and Peace


Then Imani Nnaemeka followed with this:
You are mine
The past was not your peak
I am

Peal back the sins
Repent in layers

Arrrgh!
Sweet Jesus 😌


There was no stopping at this point. Just like I said, it rained – heavy.

The passionate GodzNiel had a lot more to give :
Holy
Holy
Holy is the Lord on High
Throned
Casting crowns elder their knees.
Alone,
The Lamb of God,
The Kind of God,
Above,
The sign of days before the sun
Again,
The time before the stars were born
I said,

Holy is the Lord who teaches
His saints
Holy is the Lord who speaks
And sends
Holy is the Lord who sits
Alive
Holy is the Lord who gives
The Life

Every thing that has breath
Looks to Yahweh to have sight
Hearing Yah to know sound judgement
God created elements
From nothing to universe
Do repent, it’s exigent
Return to the template
Return to what God says


Aren’t we so blessed through this access to the throne of grace!

Hannah DGinus was not done at all:
You will die the death I choose
Hard truth!
Let’s listen and obey
The more we obey
The less we pray amiss
This is Christ’s template


With more intensity, GodzNiel had us hooked on these words:

Let us pray to awaken to the Voice of the Lord
To be clear of the cobwebs, blocking off the Word
Let us run from sin, than be destroyed because we’re bored
Be reborn in the Lord and refuse to cut the cord

Thank God for his Word
That he hasn’t washed his hands off
Thank Jesus for the blood
That the dark can’t turn the lights off

In the era to come, the walk will leave the park
We’ll face the choice to be Christ or to be Tony Stark
The Horses born of the Seals are riding in the Lands
Lord keep me under the cross, to catch blood from your Hands
To eat your broken body, and cry ‘Holy’ wholly
May I live for you, Jesus, and hallelujah boldly



Followed immediately by Imani Nnaemeka M.:
It’s funny yet comforting to know that in this Kingdom of ours we never grow to be independent.

The template is abiding
The structure is intimacy
The fuel is love

From our first declaration of acceptance to our absence in the body, we are dependent on him for every thing at every time in every way and He has promised never to leave nor forsake us.

What a love 😍
Thank you Jesus 🙌🏼


Then few minutes later, King David came in strong again with these
It is a long distance journey,
Unless you will come with me
I travel by chariots of fire 🔥

Don’t be afraid
You won’t be burnt
If you believe in this truth I tell you–
That Christ is alive.

You’ll cease to be clay
Silver and gold will envy you
You will become flames of glory.
But before we visit the angels estate
Walk on water with me.

Come,
Take my hand
It is easy.

Gods faithfulness is unfailing !

Hannah DGinus kept the flames burning with these:
We will face the choice to be Christ or Tony Stark

Iron man was hero until the world saw Christ
We were Tony Stark until we met Christ
Iron man, or should I say “we,” have become daily sacrifice
It’s a win-win
When we meet the Grand Master of Endgame


GodzNiel was not done just yet:
Jesus
Take these lungs longing for your way
Take these eyes eyeing what you say
Take these feet and fit them in the harvest
Her vest escape my eyes but not the Lord’s mesh
Animated spirit, we need reeducation
We’re your nation
Take us to where we lay down everything
No saw the demons, they only saw foolish virgins

Jesus, Son of The Abba
Only you Lord can cover your own from all the danger
Only you can whisper us warnings before the stranger

Help us choose and stand
Help us choose to stand
You are strength and wisdom
Please hold us by hand



Hannah DGinus came in again with this piece:
I get
When it is the Lord you meet
You fall as one dead
Whispers, suggestions, and soft voice becomes command
Gist becomes instruction
That sonship is responsibility
Stories are footprints, blueprints…


Few minutes later, the phenomenal ChyD came in with this:
Experience is shaped by perception.
Perception by knowledge and conviction.
You either wear God’s yoke like a badge of honor or an instrument of oppression.
If I were a blogger, I would be posting lifestyle content.
I would manny through Ice Age and with each rhema, I would turn on my ring light to spill tea.
I would be showing off muscles gotten from lifting weights of bondage and oppression;
Body toned by years of fasting and prayers
My viral video would be a challenge of 24 hours dry fasting and praying.
I’ll boast of getting fired from my job for preaching Jesus, because I have joined the Justice league.
Paul dem mandem!
I would count my self denials like I count my blessings.
And add each one to my mark of Christ
Pain is gain
And like a gym rat, I’ll continue going back to my addiction!
Christ!


And Ugwu David C. had more Marvelous words:
Thunder be quiet
Let them hear my voice.
Don’t you know beautiful ones?

El Shaddai is the Ocean Divider, he transplant nations with ease.

Like a farmer transplant a plant ☘️ he transplanted Abraham and his descendants to a better soil.

Where do desire to go?
Write it down
And make it plain
Give to me,
If you don’t have pen

You can recite it in your heart
My Father is a Spirit
He knows all things
Rejoice
It is a done deal✅

Soil flowing with milk and honey


Few minutes later, Hannah DGinus shared this:
Paul dem man dem
Paul dem mad men
I’m looking forward to this madness
Fool for Christ?
World’s foolishness
Fool for Christ?
God’s wisdom


Then Imani Nnaemeka M. put this in:

He sets me up for royal treats in the darkest storms and redeems me with the outpour of his spirit and an overdose of merriness and joy.

Surely goodness and mercy follow me forever as I am now a host of His eternal spirit and life.

Just as he gathered the clouds, he concluded with these words Godswill Ezeonyeka:

I am stone
Jesus is model
God is sculptor

All this hammering
Is proof of God’s labouring
And Jesus perfect posturing

The freestyle Friday was over but these words remain in our hearts as flames that wouldn’t quench, seeds that would bear much fruit in season and out of season. Thank you for coming all the way with me, Its always lovely when we do this together. Have a spectacular day. I’m JahzRhythm and till next time, Adios.

Authors:
Godswill Ezeonyeka
Imani Nnaemeka M.
Ugwu David C.
Hannah D’GInus
GodzNiel
ChyD

The Fig-Leaves Issue

And as they ate it, suddenly they became aware of their nakedness, and were embarrassed. So they strung fig leaves together to cover themselves around the hips.

Genesis 3:7 (TLB)

As a creative, I get to “over-think” many otherwise simple things. Maybe it is a curse in another’s eyes but in mine, it is clarity. The innate ability to really analyse events that are as heavy as world crises to lightweight issues like the response I wish I said two minutes earlier, has really helped me see what is underplaying our everyday experiences. It doesn’t make me right, I guess it just helps me to build stronger structures around what it is I believe.

As I grow older and experience more interesting versions of reality and life as we know it, I am ever more convinced on the authority and the authenticity of the bible and its teachings. One that really stands out for me it the way we tend to try and fail constantly at providing solutions to seemingly every problem that has ever occurred to the human race. Bogus claim? Yeah, I get it sounds as such but this is a conclusion I have come to through almost every thought excavation I have set my mind on. You can try it too. Ask “why” enough times and you will almost surely find yourself at a helpless human with a problem and solutions that only create more problems. This is so perfectly represented in the verse quoted initially but before we talk about that, let’s bite a little deeper into this.

Psychoanalysts, philosophers and sociologists have come to a dismal conclusion that all philosophy and modes of agreed upon human existence has its flaws. The highest medical research has provided us with solutions that are not 100% and drugs with side-effects. Engineers agree that every solution provided comes with a new problem in its suitcase. So we hold in high esteem the concept of maintenance and constant innovation. I would argue that this is growth in a sense but if you dig deeper you find, this is all a melting pot of ideas by humans trying to save themselves and failing terribly at it. Socialism and communism failed, capitalism exposed our wickedness and democracy is a hot mess. We are killing the planet by “developing” it and humanity grows dumber by consuming more and more information.

Obviously we are running ourselves to the ground and that is not a surprise at least for us Christians. The bible does prophecy it. Basically the day man thought he could decide between right and wrong, he doomed himself to death. So we are all just living a self-fulfilling prophecy but God provided us an out and that is what that verse in Genesis serves as a prequel to.

Adam and Eve had just made the dumbest decision ever (much like we do daily) and the implications of their choice showed up almost immediately. A problem. With the ability to decide for themselves, they did what we all do and tried to solve the problem. The hilarious thing is with all the “knowledge” to be like God according to what the devil promised, these two humans could figure out that there was a problem of nakedness but “they strung fig leaves together to cover themselves around the hips.” Now in retrospect, that was really dumb because even though you are not naked, you are not covered either. Only one winter breeze would show that “fig leaves” are not a sustainable clothing option. Funny thing is, Adam knew this because after adorning original “eden brand” fig leaves, he still had to hide behind bushes and here was his reason…

That evening they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden; and they hid themselves among the trees.  The Lord God called to Adam, “Why are you hiding?” And Adam replied, “I heard you coming and didn’t want you to see me naked. So I hid.”

Genesis 3:8-10 (TLB)

But this story is not all bad news at least at that point in the story. Look at verse 21 with me…

and the Lord God clothed Adam and his wife with garments made from skins of animals.

Genesis 3:21

God stepped in and provided Adam with a better solution. One that solved this problem for literally generations. I like this part of the story because it doesn’t leave man hopeless. Even more glorious is that before this verse, God had addressed the main problem with the promise of a solution. Right there in that garden, Jesus was promised; but that is a story for another day. In this article we realise quite clear as day, that even though man can choose from right and wrong, that knowledge does not guarantee him wisdom and his only hope is to give that baton to God where it rightly belongs in the first place.

What does that look like in the 21st century? Quite simple. Listen, trust and obey. We need to know what God is saying about every problem and every decision. Then we need to trust that he has our best interest at heart and then give in by obeying his instructions. Now if you want to know why we should do this, here is a reason for you; he created it all! Too obvious? Okay what about him choosing to be like us, feel what we feel and die worse than we could die just so we could have an opportunity to get back what we intentionally lost at Eden. He loves us as a whole and individually too. So maybe we might want to listen to him more.

Let’s get practical.

Before you choose to hold on to a grudge because you are genuinely hurt (fig leaves) maybe you might want to try forgiveness and give yourself peace. Instead of making yourself into a sex junkie in a bid to satisfy your cravings (fig leaves) you could let the one who gave you those cravings tell you how he intended for them to be used. PRAY! Pray as much as you can. Especially to know what to do per time and with the little and big stuff the bible doesn’t mention. Most importantly, let God lead your life by accepting the life he laid down for you at the cross. That way you get access to God in man: The Holy Spirit!

I will end with an interesting story that is not so much in the past. The film, Selma, chronicles one of the most pivotal moments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s story. One of the scenes shows MLK leading a huge multitude in a peaceful protest and for a moment it seemed as though their enemies would let them carry on but MLK stopped and took a knee. This made everyone in the protest do the same, and after a moment he stood up and went back and the crowd followed. The leaders at the time were so furious with MLK. From the perspective of the film we were able to see what transpired behind closed doors that MLK and his comrades were not privy to. This was meant to be an ambush but a lot of lives were saved because MLK stopped and prayed.

I guess I have expressed this point as much as I can for now. I hope you realise that the fig-leaves solutions you have cannot stand the test of time so you need to let God help you. I hope our leaders learn to pray and truly listen to God and then trust and obey him. In the end, this world will definitely come to ruin but at least most of us can be saved if we do differently, let God heal us and provide us with better solutions.

– Ezeonyeka Godswill
(c) 2020

Sensei

Your voice elder brother
Reminds me of life without borders.
You live a virtue more than a cafila
Of the nine fruit a part of the triune is, like aqua
Shadows shift spot when you beam your light.
Goodness you exude without a need to fight
This titanosaur, flesh that engulfed men, bond to obey
One filled with wiles; the same that appears as an apostle of the day
You conquered my nightmares, horrible illusions I traded by peace to
Long before I understood that you never wished to
Have half-baked human, harangued into hellscape.
You took away my bugaboo
And made me whole

Simeon Chidi
© 2019

DON’T CAST THE STONE

All scattered in the street,
Visible to every corners,
Dedicated to the rain and sun,
Just like obeying the clarion call,

They wish not for this course,
Longing for strength to rise,
But nature held them bend,
Cast not the stone on them,

Give a smile to them,
Stretch forth an arm to them,
Love them with words to bear,
Bless them with gifts till they blend,

They are the beggars we see,
Let’s love them as equal,
To show Christ we love,
Till he comes as a beggar in the night.

Oladayo Joseph Okelola
(c) 2018