Father we love You.  We praise You.  We adore You.  Glorify Thy name in all the earth. Glorify Thy name. Glorify Thy name. Glorify Thy name in all the earth.

I wonder why Jesus said these words:

“I am the way, the truth and the life…”
John 14:6

Jesus said many things during His ministry on earth. He told the world that He had come as a Savior in order to make the Father known. He also made one of the most profound statements that would ever be uttered; that He is the way, the truth and the life. I want us to dissect the text a little bit.

First, take note of the use of the definitive pronoun. “I” in the statement. In a world where pronouns are starting to lose their meanings and any standard definition is begginning to lose firm ground, this word, “I” is important. It was and is not meant for just anyone. It did not refer to a random person. Not you. Not me. Not they-them. Not any of the disciples with Jesus Christ. Not a group of people. Not the religious leaders. Jesus was referring to Himself. As what? As the way, the truth and the life. Now, the emphasized word “the” is another important use of reference. It is a definite article, and also notable. According to the dictionary, is denotes that there is *only one*. Just one!

Considering these words Jesus uttered, anyone listening to Him must have thought “Whoa! This man is crazy”. No wonder the Bible says that some of His sayings were so hard to accept that many abandoned Him (John 6:60). What audacity must cause a man to claim not only to be the way, but the truth and then the life. So what about every other way people knew of? What about their personal perceptions of truth? What about ways they had carved out for themselves? What about their human lives? Did it matter at all? Jesus was essentially saying to them that all of that was nothing. “I am the embodiment of life”

What discussion led to Jesus make this statement? Jesus was telling those who followed Him about a place beyond the existence of the earth (John 14:1-5). He was telling them that life after death existed, and that life after death was controlled by God. He was telling them that after death, there was a reward for His followers. He informed His followers that there was life after death for them.  However, His followers at the time wondered how they could go where Jesus spoke of to collect the rewards that He had mentioned. They asked Jesus to show them the way. Jesus told them that they knew the way because He was the way.

Interestingly throughout this discourse, the use of the definitive article is used. This leaves one wondering why Jesus and His disciples spoke as they did? As though nothing else matters but this end. Jesus called God the Father. Meaning there is truly only one Father. He continued then declaring who He is. Although the conversation with His followers was about going somewhere it ended up being about who Jesus is. Jesus did not end by saying He is the way leading to the place He had spoken of. He continued further to say two other things. That He is the truth. And that He is also the life. The way, the truth, and the life is a person.

Why go a step further? I always believe that Jesus is always a step ahead. I want to zoom onto His second statement that He is the truth.

We live in a world now where truth is pushed into subjectivity. Now more than ever, these statements are common: ‘This is my truth’. ‘Know your truth’. ‘My truth is what I think about me’. ‘You determine your truth’. ‘No one can tell you what your truth should be’. ‘Speak out your truth’. ‘I determine what is true’. Truth has become fickle.

Truth according to the world is now subject to everyone’s whim and desire. The world wants a fluid truth. ‘Don’t tell me what is right or wrong. I determine that for myself’. ‘I am my own truth’ is the gospel of the world to itself as it continually elevates self-worship, self-adoration and self-glory over God. ‘The man sitting in the sky cannot come and tell me how to live my life’. ‘If He loves me or even exists, then He has to love what I do, support all my sins, and handle my truth’. ‘Who has the right to say that what I do is a sin anyway?’

There’s is a part is the passion of Christ movie that is unforgettable to me. In a discourse between Jesus and Pontius Pilate, Pilate had qualms about crucifying Jesus. He asked Jesus, “What is truth?” The people who wanted Jesus Christ crucified had said so many things about Him. And Pilate wondered what the truth was.

Today, that is the critical question of this age. What is truth? What is the truth that transcends all generations no matter the shifting shapes of time? Jesus makes it clear. It is Him. Truth is a person. And that person is Jesus Christ.

Jesus reveals to His disciples something so critical to life. Which is, despite the many ways of the world, there is one way that really matters. It is the one that leads to the Father. There are many good and bad fathers. There are many relationships that exist but the one that is important is the one with the only true Father and only that really matters. There is only one truth. And that is Him because He leads to the Father. There is only one life to live and that is His life (Galatians 2:20).

Taking us down history, we learn that centuries ago in a world of polytheists the Israelites believed in one God. They were what we call monotheistic.  They were hated for that. All the nations that surrounded them were polytheists.  Believers of many ways. Many gods. Many truths. And even many lives. No definite standard.

Christians today are hated and rejected for believing in one way, one truth, one life. One God. One salvation. One faith. One baptism. One way to heaven. Rejected for saying Jesus is the truth like He said. The world wants a polytheist many ways to many gods where their personal truth leads them to themselves. And they have crowned themselves as their owns gods. They do not want to be confronted with accountability to someone who demands a higher standard. They do not want a definite place after death to be held accountable. They would rather turn into a plant or dirt when they die.

Truth, subject to the world has changed so much.  In a world where stability is almost non-existent, Jesus is the truth. He brings stability. He is the life. The only life worth living is the life of Christ. One would ask how? Jesus said said it, “Believe in Me.” When you believe in Him, He prepares a place for you in the House of His Father. When you believe in Him, you begin to live His life. Because you give up yours for His.

Do you have your truth? Your own standard? It is unwise to measure yourself by your own self and your own standard.

Yes, you can ask me, “how do you know that what Jesus said is true?” History testifies. Truth endures. I believe it to be so. I believe that He came from God and that He is God And when I believed, He has by many ways confirmed to me that I have chosen the truth.

I cannot defend God. He needs no  defender. But I can testify of Him. And that is what I can offer you.

We all believe in something. Some believe in God. Some also believe in self. Our own standards. Our own good works. Our own abilities. Our own truths. Some believe that we are our own gods. Our own masters. But even though that may present itself as true, it is grossly false. It is so interesting that in Genesis 3, the only time man by his judgement considered something to be good was right before eating the fruit in the garden. He judged the fruit by how pleasant it looked to his eyes and the godhood it promised him. But his own judgement led to his fall.  He moved from God’s higher standard to create His own standard.  His own concept of what was good in direct contradiction to the direction of God. A wrong one. How does the creation determine good and bad?

We all came from someone. None of us made ourselves. We were born. There is no one in the world right now who was not born. We do not pre-exist and that proves our inherent weakness. Our inherent shortcoming. We are created. And where there is a creation, then there is a creator who cannot be denied. And the creator sets the standards. The creator determines the truth. The way. And the life. Submit yourselves to God and be saved. Seek the truth while He may still be found. The truth will set you free from yourself.

The path to the truth is the knowledge of Jesus. The knowledge of the truth through belief gives you life. The life you receive is Jesus Christ who is the eternal God. The eternal life you’ll live is Christ. So many things have been said about Jesus but believe what He says about Himself. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Veritas. Jesus is the objective Veritas.

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God is God and I am not.

I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting.

God is God and I am man.

So I’ll never understand it all.

For Only God is God.

The world would so quickly blame God for the things wrong with it.

The world would blame God for the actions of man rather than man for the actions of man.

The world would rather deny God credit for good yet quickly credit man for it.

The world would blame God for His supposed inaction and blame Him for His actions too.

The world doesn’t want to be controlled by God but accuses His lack of interference.

The world would rather blame God for the sickness in the body of a man rather than the man in charge of his own body.

The world would rather blame God for the ones born “imperfect” and ignore those born “perfect”. But wait a minute. It is man who looks on the outside and determines who is perfect. God looks at the heart and searches for perfection there.

The world would blame God for the nimble athlete paralyzed by the car accident rather than the careless driver.

The world would rather blame God for the sad plight of the innocent abused little girl rather than the evil inclinations of the pedophile who heartlessly abused her.

The world would blame God for hunger and starvation when man selfishly stores up wealth and watches his neighbor starve.

The world would blame God for inequality when man bends another under the whip of dictatorship and tyranny.

History has never seen an atomic bomb drop from the heavens nor biological weapons sprout from the ground.

Why is God blamed for the chaos in the world when the active participant is man?
Why is God blamed for the hurricanes and floods when man blows billows of C₂O into the atmosphere like chimneys from the 18th century; melting the ice caps in Antarctica like butter in a hot pan?
Why is God blamed for the wars and deaths of millions when men pick up the guns to fight and put refugees to flight.
Why do we blame God for the unfairness in the world when we are the ones doing it to each other?

Isn’t that unfair to God?

We would rather God be blamed and the world absolved from every wrong, yet, the world would take credit and God discredit for every right. If God is to blame for all the wrongs in the world then surely every good is also to His credit. Or?

Why would we deny God His existence because of how wicked man is?

How about the time He said do not steal? How about the time He said do not kill? How about the time He said do not covet? How about the time He said love your neighbor? How about the time He died for you so that you could be a different, better you? For that is what a good God that exists would do. He would tell you the right thing to do. He would show you the right thing to do. He will make Himself an example to you. Literally. So that our world can be perfect as we want it to be.

But the world would rather not listen. The world would rather not see. The world would rather not do it. The world would rather not believe. Instead it would choose to go after its own way. Steal. kill. Covet and Hate.

In the wake of indulgence in the carnality of true nature, and the fruits of carnal ways have yielded in the chaos that is our world, the most calculated worst of it all is executed. The world credits all the wrongs to God’s bank and blames Him for the negative returns. Wow, we love to play the blame game don’t we? But like Ola Rotimi stated, “The ‘gods’ are not to blame.”

Do you believe that our innate man is capable of goodness? Do you sincerely believe in a default state of good in man? Do you believe that the voice deep inside of man wants to unselfishly put someone else first rather than “myself”? “You” instead of “me”? Hahahahaha. Hilarious. Do you absolutely believe that the nature of man is love? Then why can’t man just be man? Why is it so hard to be ourselves then?

Maybe, finding an alien from outer space is a crucial turning point for humanity. For the alien will objectively examine the issues from an external point of view and let us see the folly of our flawed logic.

I always say to the God critics.
If God be a fickle of my imagination then I would make that imagination my reality for without it where is the good in me?

Would I rather deny God and place my hopes and faith in a man I so clearly see is flawed in too many ways?  Full of injustice?

You may say that the devil I know is better than the angel I do not know. Thank God I don’t have to believe that. Because man says so. I would say the angel I know is better than the devil I know. For I know this God. I know that He is good and the reason for any goodness in me; He is the reason we glimpse any iota of good in this fallen world. The only source of light in an ever darkening world. The only source of hope in an existence yoked with despondence.

I’ve trusted and tested and tried Him. I’m done playing the blame game and surrendered.

Please, leave me be in my “fool’s paradise” for I would rather have the foolishness of God than the wisdom of earth’s wise.

Awaken.

What convinces you that God exists or not? Share in the comment section below.

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The post Let Us Put the Blame on God. Shall We? first appeared on .

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do for me
No great success to show, no glory of my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak becomes strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

My brothers and I nicknamed my dad, Papa Lee, last week among the thousand other nicknames he has lol. This particular one was given him because of his recent fascination with a biography series about the life of Bruce Lee. In case you are a millennial without any clue who Bruce is, this nineties girl will enlighten you in a short Wikipedia history. I actually did not know any of this information until I researched for this article. Lol.

Bruce Lee is a well known name in Hollywood’s hall of fame. For many old school fans of martial arts movies, he is considered the most influential martial artist of all time; developing his own branch of martial arts known as Jeet Kune Do. He was a celebrated movie actor, director, producer, philosopher among other achievements. After a quick read about him, you will like me, conclude that he led a very illustrious life on earth. A quick search online will give you more than enough content to turn this article into a boring or maybe interesting history of a multi talented Chinese/Hong Kong fighter but thankfully, that is not the reason why I’m writing or the reason you are reading this. Lol. So we move.

My brothers and I wondered why my dad was so taken by this particular biography. My dad explained that the character of Bruce was fascinating to him. He described Bruce as an extremely intelligent, focused, talented, arrogant, perfectionist and workaholic who was absolutely brilliant at what he did. I took the time to sit in with my dad in one episode one evening and guess what? It was the last episode. Coincidence or the Holy Spirit? This article is proof of which it is.

In the episode, Bruce blacked out while shooting a movie called, “Enter the Dragon” (name gave me the creeps honestly). I discovered that he had experienced several similar blackouts in previous episodes and these blackouts elongated progressively. According to the doctors in the film, Bruce had by his enthusiasm for martial arts and movie making, stretched his body beyond limit, even to the point where he had no iota of fat in his body. The doctors considered him a walking man of steel (step aside Superman, you’ve got nothing on Bruce). After the diagnosis, following his recent blackout, a recommendation was made to him which we will discuss later in the write-up.

Anyway, right before I fell asleep, the plot of the film reached its climax. Bruce Lee was preparing to act His last movie, “Game of Death” (which also gave me the creeps). I would love to tell you I was awake to catch all the juicy details but I went to La La Land. Later in the night, when I woke and consulted with my dad, I was told death beat Bruce at the game. I was shocked. Bruce was a virile 32 year old with a body of steel before I dozed off. Now he was dead. (well technically he died in 1973). Did he die from an accident? Was he assassinated? Was he poisoned? What caused his death?

No rest.

One crucial thing the doctor told Bruce was that he needed to rest. He needed to allow his body, mind and emotions to take a break, to be treated and to heal. Rest. Although a prescription drug is considered the trigger of the brain edema which killed him, doctors believed it was largely due to a slow unseen breakdown of a system pushed far beyond its limit. He died from lack of rest. And so at a ripe young age of 32, with a final blackout, Bruce expired. Tragic. Avoidable. Yet inevitable.

With this super long introduction, it would be nice to talk about the advantages of taking a long nice vacation to rest on an island just to sip cool coconuts and bask in warm beautiful sunsets. Which is good. But there is a better offer of rest I want to discuss which you can enjoy from the comfort or discomfort of your home (hopefully it is the former).

There are many Bruce Lee Christians. We have embodied religion like steel but we are internally breaking down. Often unbeknownst to us. Unfortunately, the religious machine we rely on will suddenly shutdown because it runs mercilessly without halt. We are doing everything and anything for God. We are playing “the Game of Death- Religion Version.” The spiritual fainting spells and blackouts are warning us that something is off but we have refused to accept what the Doctor is offering. Rest. We are running around feeling superficially strong when our spiritual bodies are clearly protesting the futility of our ways.

On the outside we seem fine. We are clearly doing church. Present in the front seat every Sunday (excluding those reserved for the deacons and elders) even on weekdays and holidays. Singing in the choir. Looking very spiritual. Speaking mighty tongues and lifting holy hands in worship. Fasting 21 days and binding every demon in the milky way. Yet in spite of all these activities, we feel dry. We are sick emotionally, physically and cognitively. We are missing divine realities. We feel at the same time unfulfilled and overwhelmed with life. We cannot seem to grasp the spark of the Faith we so profess. We are aware of how hard we have been trying to live right. We are paying tithe without fail. Eating holy communion. Constantly asking forgiveness for our wrongs. Obeying commandments and fleeing from sin even faster than Joseph run from Potiphar’s tempting wife. Yet still, the spark of our Faith is elusive. We seem strong to the eyes of the world and sometimes even to ourselves. But the yoke of religion is terribly heavy and difficult to pull. Like Bruce, we may suddenly close our eyes and never wake.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt. 11:28-30

There are many of us Christians that need to revisit this offer from Jesus Christ. Why? Because we have become so lost in our own burdensome works. If you are not a Believer, this offer is also for you.

Hebrews 4 says in verses 9-11, There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their [disobedient Israel’s] example of disobedience.

Why act “the Game of Death”? When we can take the recommended rest presented freely. This is an eternal vacation we don’t pay a single dime for. We receive a rest so perfect and true. The kind that is not centered on a place but a being. The kind that permeates spirit, soul and body. The kind that secures our existence here, now and forever. Rest in Jesus Christ.

He clearly tells us union with Him will present rest for our souls. So if you are missing rest, if your yoke is heavy and burden thick and weighty, then I prescribe a re-examination of whether you are yoked to Christ. He promises freedom, ease and lightness.

How do we enter this rest? Simply by believing in Him as Savior and Lord of our lives. How do we fully benefit? Understanding and accepting to the fullest extent all of what Christ has done for us. I cannot explain how crucial this gift is. It is the best reality of my entire life. I recommend it to you.

You know, Bruce Lee never accepted the doctor’s recommendation. He was convinced he could keep on in the same direction he had previously been. He did not allow the doctors to treat him. He did not allow his friends and family to convince him. He decided to rest after shooting the Game of Death. But death did the shooting instead. He never got to take the rest avidly advocated by those who cared for him and his health. Some might say he is at rest now. Well, that is to be discovered when this life is no more.

Jesus Christ loves us dearly. It is His desire to give us 100% rest in every nook and cranny of our lives. Time and time again, He proffers this precious gift to anyone who would take a second to listen to Him and another second to accept.

What did the Psalmist say in verse 7 & 8 of chapter 95 and the writer in Hebrews 4? “Today when you hear His voice, do not harden your heart.”

Awaken.

I discovered this song as I wrote this and have had it on repeat. Come to an end of your strength and hook up with the perfect strength. Grace upon grace.

The post Are You Tired? Burned out on religion? first appeared on .

Let Your living waters flow over my soul.

Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control of every situation that has troubled my mind. All my cares and burdens unto You I roll.

Father, Father, Father.

song by Vinesong – Let Your Living Waters

Is it not a wonderful phenomenon to just roll all your troubles unto another?

I witnessed something really wonderful today while manning the registration table at a Sunday School Teacher’s training workshop. I enjoyed the interaction between a dad and His little daughter.

Introducing, Pastor, the father, and Aseda (which means thanksgiving in Akan language), a pretty five-year old girl and his daughter.

Now mind you, I am actually writing this as I witness it. I’ll definitely edit, touch-up and do all the stuff we writers like to do with our write-ups later.

Aseda really wants to eat some popcorn Pastor has kept away in a transparent polythene bag on the registration table. Following her want, she goes to her father and demands the popcorn. But her father tells her, “No, not now”. Unfortunately for Pastor, his response does not meet with Aseda’s expectations. She insists and insists in her childlike mannerisms to have her popcorn. She even attempts to pick up the bag containing her treat. Yet still, Pastor pushes the bag away and replies as before that is it not time for Aseda to eat what she wants. When she manages to reach the bag again, He takes the bag away from her and sets it aside.

Now I am sitting here watching this classic play and thinking, “This is definitely going downhill from here.” And boy-o-boy I wasn’t off the mark.

I’m sure you must be guessing as I foresee, Aseda’s next reaction. The floodgates open and heaven pours down rain. And by heaven, I mean Aseda’s innocent eyes begin to shed pitiful tears. Roll after roll begins to fall. Have you ever heard how a child’s cries start from a low volume and then steadily rises to the peak pitch? Exactly that way is this child’s sad melody! The tears keep falling, all in hope that Pastor will respond and give her the popcorn she so desires. I can see that Pastor is moved by her tears. Nevertheless, he knows it is not the right time for Aseda to have her sweet popcorn.

What happens next, I love so much. Amidst her tears, he swoops in and carries her into his arms. He sits her on his laps, hugs her close and wipes away her tears. Then he whispers to her, [at this point, am I considered konkonsa (a gossip)for listening in?],  anyways, He whispered to her, “I will give you the popcorn as promised okay. Just not right now. Don’t cry anymore.”

Immediately, she believes him and stops crying. You must be thinking, “how did I know she believed him?” Well, she stopped crying. That’s how! Why did I say that out loud? lol. Anyway, let me continue the story. She quietly lies in his arms because she believes in her childlike heart that her father would not lie to her. He will surely fulfill his promise to her. This is a sigh and selah moment. Please pause and think.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:11 “If you earthly fathers who are evil give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

Many of us, and by us, I am referring to children of God, are crying for different things from our Heavenly Father. I could name a few but you know what it is you are crying for. As I sometimes wonder, and Aseda also wondered, you are perhaps wondering why our Father in heaven has not given you what you’ve asked for. Like Aseda, we sincerely believe that this is the time to eat our “popcorn”. Probably, we are convinced that we need it. Maybe we just want it. Yet we have not received it. However, what we need to understand and accept is that our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us to eat at the right time. Remember, He wants to give good gifts to you. He will not withhold any good thing from you. However, just like Pastor, God is the one who determines “the good” for you.

You have done well to ask Him. Now is the time to trust in Him. Wait patiently for it. Stop crying, because His promises to you will not fail. His word is His bond. His love is your surety. He has said to you in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you. And I will show you marvelous things that you know not.” O ye of little faith. Have you not realized He’s comforting you at this moment, crooning in your ears and asking you to rest assured in Him? Can you not feel His loving embrace pouring forth from His grace? Pause. Listen. Believe.

Right this moment, Aseda is happily and joyfully playing in the sand with her friends. She believes she is going to be eating her popcorn in due time. As you would too.

Below is a YouTube video of the music quote above. Enjoy : )

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