SippingFromWithin

I recently used the word ‘common’ when addressing an issue and after settling it, I began to relate it to how society uses this term in one its synonym which is ‘usual.’ From a moral perspective, some things which are wrong in today’s society are given a pass and now termed ‘usual.’ Hard drugs, alcohol, premarital sex, and other disturbing acts are unfortunately given support by instituted authority.

As a young teen growing up, I heard the words "none is righteous," and trust me when I say that those words haunted me for long. This thought prevailed because the scriptures used by the ministers I had the opportunity to hear at the time achored this thought on what they knew in part. I ThankGod for these ministers where I worshipped, and I cannot blame anyone of them, for what they shared was what they in turn were taught. But, it is intriguing, because even though preceding and later verses came with clarity; whenever I began to read a chapter I knew had such verse(s), I was blinded to its truths.

Lots of Christians find themselves at a crossroad when they deeds of their past cuts across their minds. Most of those who are trapped by this are unaware of Christ's finished works on the cross. I like the way Steve Farrar in his book Finishing Strong puts it, he said, “Tell me: when Jesus died on the cross, how many of your sins were future? The obvious answer is all of them. Because when Jesus died on the cross, you were future – and so was I.”

In today’s modern society were science and technology and rationality in general is common, miracles have been termed by many as fictitious. This rationality from my view is unjustified. For people with such a thought process judge its interpretation only within the domain of rationality. My profession is within the domain of critical thinking, so I cannot debunk this school of thought. But, the facet which people should also appreciate should cover the things many tag as “trivial”. Things that happen in the strangest of ways, like people who are passing by meeting our needs, dear friends who are there for us at the strangest of times, and total strangers who ride the tough tides with us for our benefit. These situations may be tagged as kindness, compassion or the use of some other synonym, but in most cases, the desire to intervene even when it is not to the benefit of the one intervening should be something to reflect on. For humans are selfish by nature. A non-natural phen...

As we set sail to a New Year, we lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes; we chart the waters with the guides of our past and a hope for great feats to our name. There may or would be turmoil waves and our course might change, but the destination we must stay true to. On the path which Joseph was destined to tread for him to be who his dreams had revealed, he was stripped of his coat twice. The first was when his brothers stripped the lovely coat his father had given him, shredded it, and dipped it in blood (Genesis 37: 19 – 35). The second was when Potiphar’s wife held his cloak, to make him sin but He let go and fled (Genesis 39: 7 – 21). If He had a choice, He would have never bargained for both situations. I believe when He was stripped of his coat the first and the second time, He must have been hurt. For no one would find such a situation pleasant. The people who he should have found comfort being around betrayed him and when He was beginning to find his footing in a str...

A treasured tradition that dates back centuries involving the careful selection of the Christmas tree, the positioning, and its decoration, so as to build an atmosphere for the globally celebrated holiday which really adds something to the home in which it is placed. But for this Spruce, Pine, or Fir, if naturally selected is considered for its timeline and beauty. A lot of people end the year with this tradition, and it is my believe that nuggets can be drawn from this tradition; which can positively narrow ones focus and straighten ones path. As the curtains of the year draws to a close, we instinctively take to account how we spent the year – cataloguing achieved and unrealized goals. With this, we begin by making a new set of list in our minds or document in some physical or digital form new goals which may involve carryover goals, and look forward to bring these new goal to fruition in the forth coming year. We hope that with enough willpower, we can see this list become realit...

A young lad with dreams among folks, oh! I meant wolves, Always looking at the big picture; yet unknown how he would attain his goal, Pondering on this thought and striving to build it to reality, The path is suddenly made dark by those he considered being his folks; They say to him words like, “wake up dreamer!” and as they scorn, they unknowingly expose their own realities saying, “Don’t get too creative around here, for there is no room for that kind down here.” How does the popular quote put it, I guess it says, “show me your friend and I would tell you who you are,” but it actually goes this way, “show me your friend and I would tell you were you are going.” A year passes, so does another and while time progresses, he discerns that his reality has suddenly been tainted by those around him. For he continually entertains the words “… Where you are going?" Like an apparition, he sees the futility of the endless circle of rut and despair, brought about by the falsehood o...