| Many years ago Henry Armstrong, a young pianist and composer from Boston, set down a melody that had been running through his head for days. It was beautiful and had a lot of rhythm. For seven years he sent the song to music publishing firms, but all of them turned it down. He hired a lyricist, Richard Gerard, who came up with “You’re the flower of my Heart, Sweet Rosalee,” but Armstrong still could not find a publisher who was interested.
Then one day while walking down the street, Armstrong and Gerard saw a poster advertising a concert by Adeline Patti, a popular Italian singer. On impulse they decided to name their song after her. Their new title was a bit lengthy, so they reduced it to the simple phrase “Sweet Adeline.” Armstrong’s song became the most famous barbershop quartet ballad of all time. I wonder what the world would’ve looked like if great men and women who contributed to the development of the society had given up. Just take a little time and reflect on it. Imagine what it would’ve been without cars or if it was made for the rich only. Exactly what it was meant to be until Henry Ford said no. Imagine what it would’ve been if man was not to travel by air. Maybe it will take months to get to Far East. And what would you say about the home appliances that bring comfort to you and I. One can’t stop thanking God for these men. And do you know something my dear reader, these men and women are just as human as you and I. It then means that we are capable of doing even greater things. Yes, God gave us that potential to do all things. All things I said. The question then is, how many have you done? How many are you doing? And how many will you be remembered with? So many questions begging for answers. One thing is for certain, ideas and inventions will never cease. Man will always come up with something new. Why shouldn’t it be you? Most of these new things need not be new after all. And that’s where creativity comes in. Just a little addition or subtraction to an already existing invention and you come out with something different. I remember Lance Armstrong a world class bicyclist diagnosed with terminal cancer. When most people would have given up hope, Armstrong never thought about death, but trained while undergoing treatment. And so in 1999, three years after he was told he only had six months to live, Lance Armstrong won the glamorous tour de France. Experts’ verdict you will say. They are humans after all. Aren’t they? Dear reader, never give up irrespective of the circumstance until you achieve your dream. Never. The key is in your hands! Use it. As Nigeria turns 52, never give up on the country. Happy birthday Nigeria. Happy birthday Nigerians. To our success! Twitter: @UjuBOnyechere |
Let us take a look at this green pill. It says whatever your past may have looked like don’t bother trying to fix it just come to Jesus, he’ll bring you out better than you can imagine.
I’ve been guilty of not being able to swallow this bit in the past. I mean I just could not separate that man or that lady from the past, from the things He/she did. Sometimes giving a brother a hug is hard to do because you just can’t let go of His past. I mean he is too messed up to ever be fixed again. I can’t even allow him into my house. I wonder if ever I was born again when I had such thoughts.
Anyways, a guy got involved in killing another guy who was not even given the opportunity to fight back. He did not stop there but went on to beat off some women, children and other guys as well. He even turned things against them and got most into jail. Did some other unutterable things and suddenly comes back saying “He (Christ) saved me” ? Saved from what!!!?
It took a while for the early church to accept the brother just described above. Some literally ran away from him. Others watched Him all so closely. Not until another brother finally put his ‘life’ on the line as it were just to show this guy has come clean.
Are you still living in your past? Are you haunted, wondering if all this is really true? Well….I turn you to the one this green pill which simply says though your sins be as scarlet, I would make them whiter than snow. The magnificent Grace of God births new creatures who have been turned away from their past. It is not you trying to make a “re – start”. NO!! It is a whole new, fresh beginning altogether. New as have never been seen before. Born again no longer from below but from above!
Keep on swallowing this pill because the side effects are pleasurable – peace, joy, and lots of joy. This is the reality.
– Dr bolaji akanni
“Accordingly, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, lo the new has come”. But all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, which is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and committing to us the message of reconciliation.” 1
The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual to create a new spirit in the likeness of God Himself inside him/her. It is not a change of character or attitude; rather it results in behavioral changes.
In ministering the new birth to your family, especially the children; you need to help them realize that sins are a result of the sinful nature which all humans inherited from the first man- Adam. Be graphic when you illustrate the fall of man to them and the efforts of humanity ever since to please God. For example you can buy a video of the ‘Ten Commandments’ and let them watch the interaction between God and the Israelites through Moses.
Tell them about the sacrifices instituted for sins under the law and how those sacrifices could not take away sins. (See Hebrews 10:1-10)
Then introduce Jesus to them as the solution provided by God. God Himself taking on human flesh to die as man for the sins of men; so that sons of men will become the sons of God. Let them know that an expression of faith in Christ is all that is needed for them to become beneficiaries of all that He’s done. Simple trust, belief in the heart of a child that Jesus died to save him/her makes him born again. Now, you can expect the best behavior from that child as he/she is taught by God and you are aiding the process of mind renewal by teaching your child God’s word and living out the life of God consistently. Do NOT underestimate that kid of yours from the moment he gets born again because he has the Holy Ghost just like you do!
This article is based on the assumption that you- the reader are actually born again yourself because you cannot introduce another person into what you have not partaken of. You become a minister of the new birth by virtue of the new life you have received yourself.
Scripture Ref: 12Corinthians 5: 17-19 (Revised Berkely Version)
Dr ifelayo ojo
Breath taking
Mind boggling
How could you define
God’s way to refine
He didn’t remould
Rather he left the old
Making all anew
Without a wrinkle
What a wonder to realise
He paid so much a price
Making corruptible
stand infallible
Holy I now am
Sanctified I stand
Righteous I lie
For his death bought me life
Listen,
Not a restart for my life
But His life, now my life
Behold such a love
The father so poured on us
That we should be called
The begotten of God
Truly what a wonder
I could never have pondered
Never could have imagined
that He would break down the boundary
that in His love I stand forever,
For now in his love I stand forever
bolaji akanni