Maze-minded madmen…

“always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

The two most lamentable groups of people are those who devote themselves to endless studies and never seem to be able to rightly apply their knowledge to everyday life in their relationships with other people.

They seem to live on another planet entirely and dwell on interminable intangibles. 

One set of these types of people lives in a world of fantasy where their imaginations run wild in perpetual hallucination. With a random sweep of a paintbrush they may even produce a masterpiece of nonsense and gain celebrity status from it. Yet their moral lives are as hollow empty graves. How they are transformed into social icons and idols for the rebellious fringes of society remains a mystery!

The other set may appear seemingly more respectable and may even be professors, directors of often ‘metaphysical’ movies, writers of books and high-sounding intellectuals, but their moral bankruptcy and inclination to support and espouse godlessness, exposes their cold and calculated wickedness like the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Their end, says the scriptures, has been long predicted and it’s not a fine finale for them at all! Many of these people commit suicide or die ‘mysteriously’ in strange circumstances as they exit this world’s space. 

Do you know any people living like this?

Take a closer look…are you one of them?

Aim to live your life the way that your Creator designed you to-With a purpose and for good and for the greater glory of God!

Seek out the truth of your purpose in Jesus Christ. He is the real way, the real truth and the real life.

Hot Air Money Pots

“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.”‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:3-6‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

It is quite possible to win an argument by popular vote and support and attract the admiration of many for ones ability to debate and still be totally factually wrong!

There are folks who literally make a full time lavish living from combing the globe in zealous support of causes that are controversial at best and plain wicked and evil at worst.

They bedazzle and bamboozle their audiences with their oratory powers and photographic memories. They make mockery of spiritual matters and adulterate Godly passages of Biblical scripture with their own coined-up versions, misinterpretations and misquotes. They’re always ready to downcry the Church, water-down godly standards,  whip up sentiments and incite negativity against the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. And all this for money!

Still others will not lift a finger to participate in a godly enterprise except after large deposits of money   have been secured in their personal accounts.  They work mainly for their own interests and never sacrifice their time, talents and treasures for others and yet fully expect others to bend over backwards for their sakes.

I hope you are not one of those people?

Take a cue from the last part of today’s verse. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Determine to always do the right thing in the sight of God and man within the limits of what you have and who you are in Jesus Christ, making Jesus Christ the focus of your service and not money!

No Fences to Sit On

“‘Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12:30‬ ‭NIVUK

‬“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”  Revelation‬ ‭3:15-16‬ ‭NIVUK‬

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’”  Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

One of the most confusing current 2015 wars can be found in Syria. Multiple rebel factions are supported by multiple enemies and allies at the same time against the Syrian Government which is supported by a motley of same multiple allies and enemies.

There is one big bar fight taking place in the Middle East and there is no Sheriff!

God isn’t into this type of rubbish when it comes to matters of faith in Him.  His rules for following Him are very clear. Anyone who tries to play a game of thrones with Gods business is automatically identified and classified an enemy. It’s all or nothing with God and there’s no ‘safe’ middle ground.  

With God, you either stand up for truth and justice or you are adherent of lies and injustice. You’re either following Him to Heaven or you’re reserved for Hell! You’re either saved or lost. And that’s just how it is with God.

Which side are you on with God? You’ve really got to know. To even prefer not to know is to be against God.  And that’s just how it is!

Wouldn’t it be wise of you to decide today to be on God’s side?

Hatred Bred In Familiar Territory!

“Coming to his home town, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?’ And they took offence at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town and in his own home.’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:54-57‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

‘Anyaneh’ (Gambian Wollof word for ‘jealousy or envy’) – contempt -breeds best in familiar territory. 

This is probably the saddest most pronounced reality of the typical human’s lot, within ones own community. 

No matter how gifted you are, the people most likely to despise you for it are those who are supposed to be the closest to you.

The celebrity phenomenon almost always happens when an unfamiliar crowd celebrates your gift and pays you most lavishly for the worth of your services. 

Only then will those nitpicking members on familiar “home turf” come out of the woodwork to claim you as their own! ” 

“He’s one of ours!”, they’ll cry, hoping to be identified as a part of the making of your “success”!

I have always wondered why some people bother to make long eulogies after a person has run the entire course of a lifetime.

Like writing a prescription for a dead patient, these people put off applauding and motivating the person until when he/she is lying cold, stiff and still in a coffin!

At death or retirement, you can hear all the longest, most worthless and unspared speeches of how great and gifted a person was. Yet, while the person was still alive and most useful, there was hardly so much as an acknowledgement of his/her true value!

If people spent more quality time genuinely motivating and helping their closest family members and fellow citizens to fully develop themselves, there’s no limit to the great things these people could accomplish for their communities.

How about you? Do you think you can say something nice and encouraging to someone in your immediate family, to a colleague or to fellow student, today?

Why not spare a moment today to start developing the habit of helping someone else reach his or her full potential by doing something tangible about it? 

Why not say truthfully to someone familiar today

 “Keep it up, I am with you in this all the way, for real!“

And mean it?

Labyrinth of Learning

“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When I was just a kid, I asked my uncle one day: “When will all the work that people are doing finally finish?” 

You see, I was intrigued by the daily humdrum of human activity around us as he drove us in his car to school. 

My Uncle laughed, and said “this never ends, Matt!” 

I found that pretty odd. So we are working and working with no real end in sight? Hmm!

Ever wondered how you can fall in love with a system but are never ever really able to fully understand your real role in its purpose?

Are you like the official who leaves for work early, spends all day at the office but does not even know why he has accomplished what he has accomplished at the end of the work day?

The administrator who just loves his paperwork without making the connection between the content of a letter and the importance of its application in real life?

The bus driver who is just happy to drive around in loops and does not even know why he’s doing it, but he enjoys it?

The doctor who sees one patient after another but has no vision of total healing for everyone?

The lawyer who interminably argues and adjourns one case after another without an objective to eliminate crime or establish total justice for all?

Are you the politician, the police, the priest, the professor, the sportsman, the cleaner, the businessman, the undertaker working around the clock each day ‘just for the money to spend the money to get the money’?

Most people work systems for the systems sake, without a thought of their place, purpose and role in discovering the truth of life’s endgame!

How about you? Are your mind and life just focused on the money promised to you at the end of a series weekly or monthly tasks that comprise your carrot and stick lifestyle? 

Do you have a bigger objective to discover your real purpose in life? Or will you just live and die as yet another spare part in the systemic life cycle of the world?

Why not discover your true identity and purpose in Jesus Christ?

Read the Bible with a humble, curious, unbiased but determined objective to know the truth of your purpose in Jesus your Saviour!

You will never regret it!

Is Good Old Fashioned?

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:3‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

That time is now! The time when solid teaching is no longer tolerable. It’s now considered almost rude to teach, correct, rebuke or chide anyone for saying or doing the wrong thing. 

“Who are you to judge?” is one favourite phrase for defusing the sting of anyone who wants to ‘pontificate’. Live and let live is the sweet way to live…after all if no one wants to listen to a bunch of people crying “wolf” all day long, why bother to keep on doing the same old thing? Those who accuse active Christians of being a retrogressive nuisance, unashamedly, do not hesitate to put ‘preachers’ of the gospel in their place which usually is one big basket!

This type of mockery of the truth and the resistance of many people may be quite intimidating to those who are peered to mingle with the crowd.

But the absolute truth is that people who mock, sneer and pour scorn upon those who endeavour to uphold what is morally, spiritually and Biblically upright, have either been greatly misled or gravely self-deluded. They live in a fantasy world where they would imagine that they cannot be held to account for their rejection of godly values.

I dread to think of what is happening to the souls of those mocked and made fun of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for their souls, who rejected the message of Gods free offer of salvation, and who never took the time to think through the true value of their own lives.

Don’t be a sincere fool! Turn to God for help. It’s all about your soul. Get that Bible and start reading up and informing yourself about how to guarantee the safety of your eternal destiny. Then turn over your circumstance to God through Jesus Christ.

It’s the wisest decision ever!

Escape Your Real Enemy!

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8:44‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

Most people don’t realise that all human beings have a common enemy called the Devil who wreaks havoc on the human soul as his job description. 

Another name for this enemy is called Satan. Satan has no friends. He uses and then destroys the human soul. 

While folks are busy playing religion, concocting fairy tales as bedtime stories, celebrating Halloween monsters and little demons, and fighting over rights to erect a throne to the Devil as proof of their ‘freedom’ from ‘restraints’ to punish so-called perceived ‘hypocrisies of the church’ , they do not realise that they are joking with a sinister enemy whose ultimate desire is simply to steal to kill and destroy their very souls for real!

“Debull nor get paddy!” The Devil has no friends. The Devil cannot be placated by any form of human service. His mission statement is to claim the human soul for an eternity in hellfire with no mercy. You’d better believe it.

What are your personal plans to escape the icy clutches of Devil? Is it your incense, your crucifix and your bells? Is it your chants and woos and herbs? Is it your pleas and cries for mercy? Is it your offer of faithful service and subservience to Satan? Is it your denial of the existence of Satan and your denial of the existence of God? Do you think all these things can faze the Devil? 

Will he choke on your smoke, be dazed by the sound of your bells? Will he be so impressed and dazzled by your religious philosophies that he will leave your soul alone on the day of your demise? Does he really care whether you believe in his existence or not?

You’d better do some critical thinking about who really has the power to silence the Devil and then do something about it.

The last I checked Jesus Christ is the only one who truly has such power to overcome Satan! The evidence is in print for all to see right there in the Bible.

Do yourself a favour, read the Bible and save your soul by believing in Jesus Christ as your saviour and by obeying His instructions to be rescued from the rule of your real enemy!

Trust my words my friend, you will surely be glad you did!

Silence before the Storm

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,Furthermore, just as they did not think it worth while to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:18, 28‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

I’ve always wondered why even when there are weather forecasts predicting hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, people still get killed.

We see that regardless of the warnings of horrendous natural disasters to come, there are always those who will resist evacuating the disaster zones, preferring to hunker down and hope for the best. They often pay with their lives.

The warnings and knowledge of God’s judgement have been sounded off for many generations to the point where over time,  it has seemingly become ‘redundant’ and a ‘bothersome ‘ thing to read or listen to the Bible or to go to church.

So there is an ominous silence from God towards humanity today. It’s  just like when someone has been given a final notice. It’s just like the silence before a storm. In these verses it is clear that a forecast has already been made. God is going to punish sinners. And this is no small talk.

There was a time in history when the presence of God was taken for granted and assumed normal. During this period, records of the miraculous and prophetic interventions from God were written. Great men of God who walked and spoke with God successfully captured what exactly God desires of His creation.

But now in these verses we see that for some crazy reason because some people just do not want to retain the knowledge of God’s truth in their minds, God has left them to their ways, knowing that the end is near.

Like steering a sinking ship, many people are planning their lives without God and carving out their own destruction.

How about you? What do you believe? Why not spend the rest of your lifetime seeking and discovering God your Creator?

Truth? Check! Speech? Check!

“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”‭‭James‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

When I was a teacher in High School, I observed that some of the most picked-on and bullied students were the cleverest ones! 

This was simply because they were just too good for the comfort of those who couldn’t match up to their standard of perfection. These kids were tagged with all sorts of nasty names, teased and provoked to breaking point. These were simply immature attempts to cut the clever students down to the level of losers out of pure envy and jealousy.

Once,  while my French class was in session, a sharp Indian lad jumped up, turned around and threw a punch at the boy sitting just behind him . I knew immediately that he had been provoked by his classmate who just turned out to be one of those who consistently scored the lowest marks in French. This teaser had successfully pushed this all-round Indian A-Star student to the brink and to behave in a way no one had ever seen him do before in class.

To compensate for ones imperfections most people are glad to celebrate the weaknesses we all have by claiming “ah! We are all human beings! We can never be perfect!” Often this is supposed to be some kind of excuse to placate the laziness and indiscipline of the immature or inept. 

But there is a time to grow up! We must accept that it is possible to be perfect at least in the most important areas of life. The writer James suggests that we start with being perfect in what we utter with our mouths.

Some people may hate you for always speaking the pinpoint truth.  

They may tempt you to stumble and behave in ways no one has seen you do before. They may provoke you just to prove that you are just a ‘mere mortal’ after all! That you also are mortal and imperfect is of some comfort to the immature and brings them great delight!

But however much you stumble, let no one tempt you into being economical with the content of truth in your speech. It may irritate many who deny the truth but ‘the truth’ says Jesus, ‘will set you free indeed!’John8:32. Free from pretence, free from fakeness, free from flakiness and free from all worry!

Purpose in your heart today to aim for perfection, discipline and maturity and truthfulness of speech. This is of preciously great value in all situations!

Be true and truthful today!

Poisonous ‘Free’ Speech

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

“But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

One of the most insidious elements of organizational  meetings is this thing called “only expressing oneself” or “simply speaking ones mind”.

Some people believe that it is good to air out opinions in meetings and to feel free to say what is in ones heart. And to a large extent this is true. But this seemingly harmless freedom is often misused as a privilege and platform for making baseless allegations, for passing off poisonous statements as fact, for repeating  unrestrained lies disguised as ‘ongoing concerns’ and the like.

As a Pastor, I have been a witness, a target and a victim of such open meetings and it has taken me quite a while to discover that it is this abuse of so-called ‘freedom of expression’ that causes meetings to disintegrate into bouts of exchanges, angry retorts, disruptive behaviour and the like.

In as much as people must be free to speak out and speak up, people must never be free to tell or relay baseless lies and try to pass them off as truth, or vent out envy and jealousy against individuals, disguised as general concerns, without being held accountable for the utterances they make. I won’t be surprised if this single insidious practice is a major contributor to the rise of repressive leadership styles in various types of organisations.

Determine in your heart that you will never be used as a tool or a vehicle to spread harmful lies and pass off rumours as concerns whether in private or in public. You might just end up being a messenger of evil and a destroyer of the peace!

May God also help some of us to remain unperturbed whenever we are obliged sit with gossips, liars and rumourmongers without playing into their hands by “losing our cool demeanour”.

Selah!