BADDEST GUY EVER LIVETH

The Savior from Nazareth,

Indeed my redeemer liveth,

Jesus Christ, my pillar of faith,

His name, all angels praiseth,

He who has all sinners justifyeth,

From all iniquities, He saveth,

From all debt, He redeemeth,

The Word that created the earth,

And all humanity by His might, He sustaineth,

At all cost, true salvation He obtaineth,

All those who trust in Him, He edifyeth,

The devil accuseth, Yet He redeemeth,

I marvel at the things He doeth,

Deep into the hearts of men, He looketh,

He who had my sins wipeth,

And all my sorrows, He taketh,

He fulfills every promise He maketh,

He neither slumber nor sleepeth,

The Lord giveth life, and He taketh,

Yet all my needs, He provideth,

Studying His Word is a full diet,

Listen, all the sinners He still calleth,

All those with sickness, He healeth,

For all mankind to be saved is all He seeketh,

Deeper than the grave, He searcheth,

Like a two-edged sword, He pierceth,

Every dead thing around me, He raiseth,

For His sake, I have Angels everywhere, even in my closet,

Hosanna in the Highest,

In my view, He remains the fliest,

His Holy Spirit in me remains the realest,

He comes to me at my lowest,

He stands by me when the obstacle is thickest,

And He takes me to the highest,

Still He brings out my very best,

His glory, I can’t wait to manifest,

In my list of priorities, He comes first,

He is the bread of life, have a taste,

His blood will quench every thirst,

If you don’t want to believe the gospel, be my guest,

Anytime spent in His presence is definitely not a waste,

He is ever present from the east to the west,

He may not look like Kanye West,

But I know He is the baddest guy that ever liveth,

Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

I will love you till I take my last breath.

 

PS:

One love to Nigeria’s hottest rapper - Olamide who will be dropping His album soon titled “Baddest Guy Ever Liveth”. Your album title inspired this piece. Good luck on your album release, Thanks.

DISCLAIMER:

This piece is not in any way related to Olamide or His upcoming album, all the contents herein are just based on the creative imaginations of the author.

The word “Baddest” is a slang for “Greatest” in modern lexis of the youths. It is therefore not used and should also not be interpreted or quoted in a derogatory context.

Image1 : Christo the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Jeneiro, Brazil.

Source:www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_(statue)

Image 2:Lifting para el cristo Redentor de Rio el comercio

Source: www.elcomercio.es

IS TIME REALLY AN ILLUSION?

Hi peeps, how has your week been? I know it’s been a while (4 years, 8 months and 12 days to be specific) since I dropped some lines, but to cut the long story short…… I am back. I took a break from blogging for some personal reasons. I want to thank all those who sent  emails……urging me to make a comeback….I am so honoured  and really humbled. I have been working on some other projects for a while now but it’s a pleasure to be back all the same. You can say it loud now….Uchevelli is back!

According to the scientific American Magazine (June 2010 Edition) in an article written by Craig Callender, the issue was raised “is Time an Illusion?” He enumerated the divergent views of various scientists and philosophers on the issue. He mentioned Albert Einstein’s theories of relativity and Mysterious Flow by Paul Davies (Scientific American, September 2002).

“In the bestselling book -The Secret, it says ‘Time is just an illusion.’ Is it true? Is it just a figment of our imagination? (Does time Exist? by Andrew Zimmerman Jones)

According to Wikipedia “time is a dimension in which events can be ordered from the past through the present into the future, and also the measure of durations of events and the intervals between them.

Time has long been a major study in religion, philosophy and science, but defining it in a manner applicable to all fields without circularity has consistently eluded scholars”.

I didn’t write this, I didn’t formulate it….the case is that I even got more confused when I tried to get the definition of time. But I must tell you that the theory of relativity, time dilation, space time, time travel, twin paradox or cosmological  and thermodynamics arrow of time didn’t give me a clear picture of the topic, rather I got more confused.

There are lots of popular sayings in this part of the globe with reference to time like” Time is money”, “Time waits for nobody”, “there is time for everything”,” time travel”, “manage your time well”, etc.

But I ask…do you really have time when you don’t control it? How can you manage something that is out of your control?

Do you know when your time on earth will come to an end? You can’t even say what will happen in the next minute or couple of seconds. Does it mean that you can only manage the slot you are given by the Almighty? (Even though I read that God added 15 years to the life of a King during the time of Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 38:1-8)

The past is gone like smoke and you can’t go back to it or get it back…..with all the opportunities that came along with it and the future has not come yet so  it’s not tangible, you can’t count on it until it comes and becomes NOW. What we call the present is just NOW, one split second at a time and it’s gone…..LOL.

It’s quite confusing right………..when science, religion or philosophy doesn’t give you all the answers?

I only came to one conclusion…..that Time is one of God’s mysteries…..which is still beyond the scope of human understanding. Only God has control of time because He made the end from the beginning. Time is one of the major unsolvable equations of human intelligence despite its importance which is beyond man despite his technological innovations. It’s something we take for granted, yet it determines our lifespan on earth and our destinies in eternity.

According to some people, time past cannot be captured, rather it can only be remembered as a good or bad memory……therefore you spend time trying to remember time already spent. So I ask again……..What is time? Is it real? Don’t give me some complex algebraic or mathematical equation.

In your own words, what is time? How come we know so little about time, yet we use time spent to measure our sojourn on earth? If I ask “How old are you?” and you respond “I am twenty years old” Does it mean that time is life? If life is measured by time spent, does it mean that life is a function of time or vice versa?

Man is limited by time because no one knows what may happen tomorrow, till tomorrow comes? I may predict scientifically based on things that had occurred in the past but…….is it always accurate? This means that most predictions are basically probabilities ……………yes or no, on or off, zero or one, black or white, right or wrong.

Since I could not find any satisfactory answers on Google, Wiki or science, I decided to consult my Bible and what I discovered blew my small mind.

TIME IS REAL………….HEAVEN IS REAL AND HELL IS SO REAL… and your time is ticking fast.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-17 was the first place where time was defined, described and elaborated in detail.

It says

“ To everything there is a season,

 A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born , And a time to die;

A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted (harvest)…….”

It goes on and on………..

Ecclesiastes 3:11

“He had made everything beautiful in its time,

 Also He has put eternity in their hearts,

 except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end”

QED

I wish some scientists of our time would read this and give their lives to Christ………..lol.

Ecclesiastes 8:6-12

“Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,

Though the misery of man increases greatly.

For he does not know what will happen;

So who can tell him when it will occur?

No one has the power over the spirit to retain the spirit,

And no one has the power in the day of death.

There is no release from that war,

And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it”

I discovered that God had the power to control time, step into the future and correct the past….wow, interesting…..something that we can’t even still understand now, with all the technologies at our disposal. God worked with time, acted on time and even paused time at some point.

Isaiah 46:9-10

” Remember the former things of old,

For I am God, and there is no other,

I am God, and there is none like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

And ancient times things that are not yet done,

Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

And I will do all My pleasure,’ ”

I realized that indeed….God just wants us to know why He is the Almighty. In the book of Joshua 10:1-43, the story of how a man under God’s anointing commanded the sun and moon to stand still for almost 24 hours, for them to continue a battle (against 5 kings) that was to their favour….(Joshua 10:12-13).

Man is a prisoner of time….yet brags to be free…..how?  I just wonder.

So at this juncture, I ask myself……….why will someone not serve God? It baffles me why someone will not accept Jesus as His Lord and Savior…..knowing that all could end just now…………maybe before you finish reading this article….God Forbid!  I can’t say for sure how many have died in the last five minutes……….but I wonder what gives you and I the impetus think that we are better than those who have fallen asleep?  It is simply by the grace of God that we are saved and yet another opportunity to make amends….Don’t take it for granted.

Psalm 144:3-4

“Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?

Or the son of man that You are mindful of him?

Man is like a breath;

His days are like a passing shadow.”

We board airplanes not knowing the one that may crash, we travel on roads……same roads where many  lives are lost daily, we live in a world where we could wake up and discover that a “tsunami” had wiped off a whole city while we were asleep……..some people go to bed and wake up with strange illnesses or even pass on in their sleep, some people travel and never come back home and you tell me not to tremble at His mercies and acknowledge Him in every step I take….. and every breath I breathe…. Impossible.

James 4:13-16

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city,

Spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life?

It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and vanishes away.

Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.

But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

At times like this, the best thing to do is to take solace in the arms of the One who truly saves, allow Him take control of your time, your life and what’s left of it.

Psalm 31:15

“My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me”.

I may have wasted my life or time …..( Ephesians 2:12-13) making lots of mistakes, but I now I know better…..got to make the time I have left count for something  (Eph 5:16, Colossians 4:5 – Redeeming time).  The fact that I have fallen in the past is not the issue, wasting valuable time crying over spilled milk is the script of the enemy. Jesus has brought redemption to our doorsteps. He says it doesn’t matter how long I was stuck down there, He is willing to wipe off my sins, forget the past and give me a new start. God is a God of many chances only if you are willing to keep trying until you get it right. Things might not be perfect at the moment, but never give up….because it is only for a time….or season, and as we know….time is not stagnant, seasons are not static…..so your situations are only but for a while….joy  and help will definitely come in the morning.

Psalm 62:8

 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us”

In conclusion, a life without Christ is a life well wasted….a total waste of time.  Time is real, heaven is real and Hell is so real. In my own opinion, I think it is “anti –Christ” to say that time is not real….because it implies that what was done on the Cross of Calvary is not real…..Can you imagine such a fallacy?

Anything not contained in His word (The Bible) is out of our syllabus….Time makes no meaning in the grave. The essence of life is to spend our time on earth for God (doing His will and giving Him true worship) so that we can spend eternity with Him at the end of time. I don’t know if you have a different view or  perspective regarding the mystery of time…..your comments would be highly appreciated……..thanks for dropping by……..please do visit again………..until next time……….it’s your boy…….Velli.

The image “Hourglass,dying.jpg”  is courtesy:www.highschooldxd.wikia.com   

MORPHEUS!

Wats up people? It’s your boy…velli! Its good to back ya’ll… (Even though I didn’t go anywhere). Sorry for the long break …alot has been happening lately…. A nigga has been so busy.

Well since its my first blog in 2009, its not too late to say Happy New Year….thank God for last year…. 2008 was a planting year, a year of investments…which was why it seemed like a stressful year for so many. The scriptures talk about “sowing in tears and reaping in joy”, so it wasn’t a bad year for me though. But 2009 would be a harvesting year for many, a year of fulfilled dreams or better still… the year of the manifestation of the children of God… if you know what I mean…just follow my lead (lol).

A dream can be described as a sequence of images that appear involuntarily to the mind of somebody who is sleeping (or awake in the case of a day dream), often a mixture of real and imaginary characters, places and events. It could also be defined as something hoped for, usually something difficult to attain or an idea that is impractical or unlikely ever to be realized at the time.

Morpheus, in Greek mythology was the god of dreams, the son of Hypnos, god of sleep. Morpheus formed the dreams that came to those asleep. He also represented human beings in dreams. The name Morpheus is derived from the Greek word for “shape” or “form” and was mentioned by famous Roman Poet Ovid in the 14th century.

You might be wondering why my emphasis on dreams, what is this uchevelli boy up to this time? Has he gone crazy… again? Well, you never know…. Strange things are happening in these days…they called it the end time.

My theme for the year 2009 is found in the book of Romans 8:18-22 (KJV), which says thus:

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestations of the sons of God
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God”
Sorry for the digression, hope you don’t mind if I seek another translation for clearer understanding:
Let try NIV:
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons (children) of God to be revealed (manifested)
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God
The year 2009 has a lot to do with the manifestations of the sons (and daughters) of God in their every endeavour….especially in areas they are not aware of. This year is a year of the manifestation of hidden potentials…abilities, gifts, characteristics, qualities and traits that have been neglected, ignored, hidden or buried for reasons you don’t know. As mere mortals, the highest we can achieve is based on the height, width or depth of our dreams…. which is the reason for the focus on dreams this year. Anything you have not achieved yet is still a dream until it is manifested physically.
Your hidden potentials are hidden in your dreams…for some of us; our dreams are so wild that we hardly believe in them…why?

Something tells me that in a not too distant future, I will be rich like Bill Gates…..is that possible? Who are you asking…me? Did I give you any dreams…..ask the Giver of dreams (God)…..and while you are at it….please give Him one good reason why your dreams shouldn’t come true?


Dreams are not mere fantasies if you believe in them. The scripture above(Romans 8:18-22) first talks about you being subjected to some form of hardship, to test your faith, then talks about the eager expectation of the children of God to manifest in diverse ways, which will come in form of their dreams being fulfilled. The fact that they are waiting for the manifestation means that it has not taken place yet, meaning that it will follow a due process until the appointed time for the physical manifestation to take place.
Finally, the last verse talks about the bondage coming to an end and the glorious liberty of the children of God being made manifest for all to see.

This scripture wants you to know that whatever you having been passing through is only temporary…it’s for a while…just hold on. Last year was the way it was because the Father wanted it that way, but this year is gonna be great because your manifestation will come in diverse ways…meaning that your upliftment this year will be dynamic in nature… its gonna even surprise you!
But all this things are tied to one condition……what is your dream? What is your vision? What are you doing to put yourself in a favourable position to actualize it? Are you in good standing with God? The only thing I can say this year is “Dare to Dream?”
2009 is a year when a lot of dreams will be fulfilled.

If you take a careful look at the parable of the Sower, (Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:14-20) it starts first by talking about the tussle for the seed, not the soil type. Don’t be distracted by the various soil types and the circumstances illustrated initially in the scripture because irrespective of their composition, they went through the same process…sowing…depositing.
The determining factor after the seed has been planted is… what happens to the seed? Does it grow to bear fruit? Jesus was particular about the only soil type that provided a conducive environment for the seed to grow and bear fruit, not the type of seed cos a dream is dream….irrespective of the dreamer. Some good soil types can also have thorns which will grow with the seeds that have been sown, but that does not mean that the soil is not good, it means that the environment is not conducive. It does not mean that the seeds won’t germinate and grow, but the fact is that …even if the seed eventually grows; the thorns will choke it and kill it. So in this scenario…we are not blaming the soil but the environment. It has to be conducive… the soil…the environment…every component plays a vital role in the success and growth of the seed.

If God deposits a seed, an idea or a dream (a seed) into your life, and you allow your problems, your sin, your unforgiveness to choke up that seed, or allow your unbelief or your past experiences to hinder your willingness to accept something new (thereby giving the seed a shallow background), then you belong to the other soil types that won’t allow that seed (or dream) to grow and bear fruit (manifest).

The Good soil is free of the hatred or scars of the past, willing to forgive and dynamic to accept changes….conducive for the germination of new ideas and dreams, meaning that it is open to more blessing from above. The secret to your success this year lies on this fact, because the manner of change that would take place this year would be confusing, and it will take the grace of God to really adapt.


Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, on 28th of August, 1963, when Martin Luther King jr delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, one of the greatest speeches in World History… little did he know that someday in 2009, that Barak Obama, an African-American… will be become the 44th President of the United States of America (the 2nd Black President of the United States…that is after… Bill Clinton). What other examples do we need to illustrate the fact that dreams come true, and that our limitations lies in our inability to dream bigger and wilder than we are used to. If you can perceive it then you can achieve it….no doubt in my mind, only believe in God’s ability to make such dreams a reality.


The Bible talks about a young boy called Joseph, (Genesis 37:1-36, chapters 39 to 50) who got into trouble because he dared to dream and shared his dream with his brothers… his only crime was that he shared his dream…not with strangers…but his family…his own brothers. This year, be careful who you share your dreams with. You might think they are all on your side….but they might not be happy about your progress, and this is even a preamble compared to what God has packaged for you, because if they knew what God has planned for you, they would go bananas on your ass…. Some people would be looking at you…wondering why you are always smiling….despite all the drama you are going through. Well it’s not my fault; it’s not by my strength or by my righteousness but it’s by His grace…the Good Lord made it so. If God gives me a reason to smile…should I frown? What can they do about it? …and who said He hasn’t given you a reason to smile? You are still alive; aren’t you? Otherwise how would you be reading this garbage am writing? (some good garbage ha)


The lines of these popular songs go thus:
“God give me style, God give me grace,
God put a smile upon my face”
(Songs by 50 cent –“God give me style” and Cold Play - “God put a smile upon my face”). Funny enough, 50 cent is my favorite rapper and Cold Play is my favorite Rock band and both lines are found in both songs ironically).


Some people get disappointed that they dreamt they won a $1 million last night and woke not to find the money. Some dreams take decades to materialize, so you would have to carry these dreams and nurture them until the appointed time. Things don’t just happen, I don’t believe in luck or coincidence…No! But everything happens….at an appointed time… as planned or pre-arranged or pre-destined by God….at the appointed time…..ok? You don’t just bump into your destiny…you discover your destiny at the pre-appointed time.

The only lesson I learnt from Joseph was that he never gave up his dream… not for riches, problems, pleasures of the flesh or distractions of his environment. He was sold into slavery; he carried that damn dream with him to Egypt. When he got to Egypt, did he go straight to the palace of Pharaoh to take over as prime minister? No… he went through a process…subjected to diverse sufferings and training…call it false accusations if you like. He was always willing to help people around him, the Bible talks about God being with him anywhere he went… I didn’t hear him complaining or protesting… I didn’t see it in my Bible anyway …may be it’s in yours… (Just joking).

I am not supposed to be here… if you knew who I am… I don’t deserve this type of treatment… am in a bad mood because I just remembered how my own brothers betrayed me, I have been betrayed in the past, I was lied against…I can’t trust anyone again….after the horrible experience of my last divorce…I can never forgive that person, I cant love anyone again…. bla bla bla….

All these rubbish thoughts running through your mind like… cars on Lagos traffic will hinder your ability as a good soil to receive and nurture the seed God will deposit or has deposited in your life to grow and bear fruit.

“A conducive environment for good dreams and innovative ideas is peace of mind and a clear conscience towards… God and your fellow men”

This was what Joseph had towards his brothers, irrespective of what they had done to him in the past. This year is a time to hold fast to your dreams…because they will be manifested, that does not mean that trials will not come… even if they do, God will be there with you to see you through.

Dream BIG…because the time has finally come. When God told Abraham, the father of faith that he was going to be the “father of many nations” and that his descendants will be like the stars in the sky, or the sand on the sea shore, how do you think he saw it? With the eyes of his heart… in his dreams… because that type of blessing can only be conceived in your dreams before it can be manifested physically. You have to believe and have faith first for the dream to manifest and become a reality.

Newspaper reports reveal that 500,000 people lost their jobs in the month of January and about 300,000 lost their jobs last month (being February) in the United States alone…and its very likely that the trend will continue. It will take only the grace of God to survive in this turbulent times, but it is also a time for the Children of God to shine and manifest in their various endeavours especially those who are faithful to Him…are you?

As the global financial crisis begins to bite harder and harder, we as God’s children should not forget that something like this happened in the past, and it took Pharaoh’s dream and God’s anointing in the life of Joseph to reveal the solution to the crisis. Today, God will reveal ways and avenues for his sons and daughters to manifest without any hinderances (especially financial). The Grace of God is usually more abundant in times of crisis, He makes a way where there seems to be no way, makes a river in the desert and a pathway in the wilderness for those who call Him “Father”….are you one of them?

A dream is like a seed planted in the soil of your heart, which can only germinate if the soil is fertile and if the environment is conducive. Don’t choke up your dreams with evil thoughts of your past, wash your face and move on….but please don’t give up your dreams. 2009 is a year to forgive those who have wronged you, and move on with your life.
The Sower is going around throwing seeds on the earth; only the good soil with the conducive environment can be fruitful. Are you ready to receive the seed? It could be your turn tonight…are you ready for the task ahead? Welcome to 2009.


Keep your dreams alive…


Well, that’s all folks…thanks for dropping by… still your boy, velli…signing out.

KILL YOUR SELF?

Hey peeps…how has it been? Well, Velli is good sha. I have to apologise for not being regular lately… been so busy. Looking at the subject today might give you the impression that Uchevelli has gone bananas upstairs… is he in any way talking about suicide?

About a year ago, one of my course mates who was already in his final year… had problems with a course … I don’t know the details, all I know was that he was facing some serious challenges, he was just a few units from graduating…when the final results came out… he failed a course (Industrial Attachment -IT)…which wasn’t an academic course…how can you fail a student because of IT, people pass it at the comfort of their homes… how much more…well he failed it twice simply because the lecturer felt that he could not prove that he actually undertook the exercise while in the UK. This was his second extra year…and he just couldn’t bear the idea of having to spend an extra semester (na normal thing for some people sha)… he couldn’t take it anymore.

How could you spend 7 years for a 4 year course? Well, UNILAG no be beans… I have seen people who spent a decade… just to get a degree…(I don’t mean a PhD) … I mean Bachelors Degree.

He went home that day…met his parents watching a Nollywood movie, he greeted warmly… got to his room to change…

The next thing his parents heard was a gunshot…from the room… it was later discovered that he went into his parents’ bedroom, got his father’s firearm and took his own life.
It was a sad news… and it got me traumatized for a while…. He was such a quiet, handsome and well mannered young man…always well dressed (very formal) and spoke very well, (he had this British accent).

I am not here to ask why it happened or who caused it… but all I can say is that God knows everything…some of you must have read about it in the papers…and for the people in Lagos or students in UNILAG, you know what am talking about…I don’t need to go further.

There is a big difference between “Kill yourself” and Kill Your Self”…

When you want to kill yourself… you are talking about suicide…killing yourself… taking your own life… which is sinful and very bad. I am not encouraging such acts…not at all. There is no reason on earth why you should take your own life… given to you by God. Who gave you the right to even think such…? God forbid.

I know people who are HIV positive… they are living happy lives today…. happily married with children (who are HIV free), I know people who have Cancer… and have been told their death dates…. But they are full of life… enjoying their moments with their loved ones… we still jam in the club from time to time... So what are we talking about? There is no excuse for such stupid actions….no justification whatsoever. Anyone who takes his or her own life will go to hell… that’s for sure.

Now… if you follow closely…you will see that the subject is “Kill Your Self”… which means something else. I am not an English major… but if you observe closely, you will see that the subjectc contains 3 different words (Kill Your Self) compared to the former which is 2 words (Kill Yourself).

The reason why am taking all this time to explain myself is because its so easy for some people to either quote or misquote me…looking at the controversial nature of what am talking about. Some years ago… (1993 or there about)…some youths shot a man in the US and claimed that they were inspired or influenced by a Tupac song… Nigga please!

A song made you shoot another man? Haba, I listen to that same song almost everyday o. So does that mean that my backyard should be a memorial park? Should that make me a killer? How come nobody has killed anybody from watching Rambo IV, Terminator or Jack Bauer in 24? With all the horror flicks we watch these days… nobody has claimed that they (the movies) influenced them to chop off other peoples’ body parts or become a menace to society. Why hasn’t anybody sued Jacky Chan or Jet Li for influencing them to beat up 20 people to a pulp…or for jumping off a 16 storey building… try am now.

Sorry for digressing… back to the subject again… what was it again?

As I was saying, when I say “Kill Your Self”, I mean that you have something that belongs to you, called “SELF” which you must kill… in order to live a life that can please God. It’s just like saying kill your goat, kill your cat, kill your pride… kill your Sinful nature, Kill Your SELF!
You have to kill the SELF in you…that is your own SELF … the SELF that belongs to you…by the way… What is SELF?

This is described as the Adamic nature, the sinful nature, the old man, the flesh, the carnal mind etc… There are many other words that are used to describe SELF.
They call it Old man because since you were born with this nature…it is as old as you are and probably knows you more than you even know yourself…but this new nature (of God) is still trying to grow, develop…and adapt to the hostile environment. The Old man knows all your strengths and weaknesses, the shortcuts to your soul… looking for ways to maintain control, but the nature went astray from the womb… you might claim that it’s the only life you know...Yes, but the final destination such a lifestyle would lead you to…is destruction. It is comfortable because you are so used to that way of life…but am telling you that it doesn’t lead to Heaven. So when I say kill your SELF … I mean killing that nature…putting to death all that is related to that sinful nature.

Romans (8:4-10) talks about SELF meaning hostility to God… explaining more about having to KILL YOUR SELF and replacing it with a new spirit. The (Holy) Spirit of God which will quicken your mortal bodies…or give life to your lifeless bodies…but first… SELF must die in you…it must cease to control your thinking, your actions, your emotions, your decision-making, in short… everything about you.

SELF is the nature you were born with… but in order to live a life that can please God… a transformation must have to take place, so that the old SELF will die and give room to a new SELF …controlled by the Holy Spirit, this connects us with Christ, gives us the right to become true children of God, making Jesus the first born among many brethren…in one big family.
It is this transformation that will give us a striking resemblance of Christ….. making people to call us “Christians” …. Meaning that we are “Christ-like”… (Romans 8: 16 -17). Romans 8:13 says “if you live in Self or in the flesh…you will surely die.”

Gal 5:19-26, Colossians 3:9-10… explains the attributes of SELF in the life of a man before the transformation…or before the encounter with Christ and the attributes of life after the encounter.

So, when I am talking about killing your SELF … we have to rid ourselves of this sinful nature if the sacrifice on Calvary would be of any significance in our lives. This sinful nature (the Flesh) makes it impossible for us as human beings to live a sinless life…
(Eph 4:22-31, Psalms 58:3, Jn 3:5-11)

A righteous life is only possible by His grace…and by receiving His Spirit (Conversion), then striving to learn of the Master, to be like Him, Act like Him and studying His ways and His Will for your life (Discipleship). These 2 steps are vital in the life of a true child of God; it’s usually a life long process…cos we learn every day…. And the transformation is gradual. Some people just get converted at crusades…and it ends there. You have to be nurtured until you are matured in the things of God…it is a never-ending experience.

In conclusion, whatever action or ideas that originates from the flesh or SELF is corrupt in the eyes of God ... and can never fulfill His purpose or Will.
Examples are as follows
Adam and Jesus,
Cain and Abel,
Ishmeal and Isaac,
Saul and David,
Esau and Jacob
The 10 (sons of Jacob) Brothers and Joseph, (Benji was not among cos he came after Joseph)

These are examples of those in the flesh and those chosen by God to fulfill His purpose on Earth…

These stories portray how those in the flesh worked contrary to the plan and purpose of God…without even knowing it… they thought they were doing the right thing. If you notice, those in the flesh came first; they are usually older, have more experience… than the chosen ones. They are usually SELF-imposing, SELFISH (think of themselves before anyone else), they usually embark on SELF-advocating plots to achieve SELFish motives which are usually contrary to God’s plan. They are usually SELF-centred, SELF-sustaining (instead of allowing God to do the Sustaining), SELF-absorbed (too busy with themselves), SELF-abused at times, SELF–asserting, SELF–conscious, SELF-made millionaires who at the end SELF-destruct… (I’d rather be a God-made Millionaire than be what the Bible calls a “Rich Fool”)

Well, if you really want to serve God…. You must “KILL YOUR SELF”, that is the only way to true salvation…, thanks for your patience… and stay blessed.

I SEE DEATH AROUND THE CORNER

Hey people, how are things with you all? Well things are cool with velli, only say things no too easy sha… but we thank God for every. Well, as the Bakassi controversy final dies down, and Cameroon finally carries the day, life must go on… Well, I sympathise with the people from Bakassi, and hope for the best as they choose either to remain Nigerians or change to Cameroonians.

Well, today was very bad for me because I couldn’t stop thinking of a friend of mine whose birthday was today….being the 26th August, he died 3 years ago in a plane crash along with 114 passengers on board that ill fated aircraft. He was such a gentleman, I have never seen anyone so honest, no even my humble self, Jide (not real name) was such a sweet heart and everyone loved him. He was older than me with like 5 years but we related like brothers or peers, if I would use that word. He was my best friend and we loved each other like the biblical David and Jonathan. I gained a lot from him… good advice, support, love and genuine friendship… these are things you don’t find easily nowadays...because good friends are a rare commodity these days. We argued sometimes about issues and even if it was my fault, he would still be the one to call and say… hey bro, why you dey fuck up? Shei… you still dey vex? Would you like to go out for a drink? Meet me at Ibiza (his usual joint) this evening…ok? He just carried me along like a brother and I loved him dearly. He just got married to his long time girlfriend… a beautiful lady, and he was going to become a father in a few months… he was so excited, wanted a baby boy, I teased him to expect a baby girl. It was as if he had everything going well for him… his career was blossoming… he was financially ok…just bought a new house… he had a happy home, what else can a nigga ask for?

He had a meeting in Lagos, so flew down on a Monday and was meant to come back on Wednesday. When they got to Lagos, he gave me a shout on phone and we chatted for a while thanking God for journey mercies (cos you need a lot of it when you are traveling by air… in Naija), he told me to please keep an eye on his wife since she was all alone with the housemaid, just to keep her company later in the day. I went there after work and spent sometime with her , he even called his wife while I was still there and she let me speak to him on phone again…I was a part of that family. He used to tease me that when I finally decide to settle down, that our wives and kids would all be hanging out, that one of his children should marry one of mine…he always told me of the importance of family, that it was never too early to settle down and start a family. He said he would be coming back on Wednesday; I teased him that we couldn’t wait to have him back, that I don’t want any Lagos girl to “steal” him, he laughed so hard and the wife just smiled.

On that fateful day, he boarded that plane like everybody else, with hopes, dreams and aspirations, looking forward to seeing his pregnant wife, his friends… to get back to work after accomplishing the mission for which he was sent, and that was the last we heard of him. They took off and the plane crash-landed in a swamp just 15 minutes after take off, 115 passengers and crew members all lost their lives in that unfortunate plane crash.

Nobody knows when the end will come, but it sure will… anytime I get on a plane, I ask my self… many people got on a plane just like am doing right now, and that was their last, many people traveled by bus… and they never came back, many people left their homes this morning, kissing their wives goodbye, promising to buy gifts or biscuits for their children on their way back from work in the evening, and that was the last time they ever saw their family... some have died in their sleep.

Just a second… (to get a hanky)… these tears…. should stop rolling…. down my cheeks… (Damn! I can barely see what am typing)

Anytime am about to do something risky, a lot of shit goes through my mind, not because am afraid, but because am just trying to be real, today could be the last… yes… if not for me… for someone else… cos people die everyday… you are reading this because by His grace, its not you yet…. And I am still writing this because by His grace… am still here. Just make sure you put things in order at all times no matter what… if you owe… try to pay up, if you are cheating on your wife… please stop for your own good. If you are stealing from your boss… he might not be seeing you now, but God is watching you… please stop. If you have not been honest in your dealings, all in the bid to make money… stop. If you have hurt someone in the past… kindly go and make up with that person if possible, be at peace with all men… if you have not put your ways right with God, that is even the most important of all… do it right now when you still can …put your house and life in order… cos like the Bible says “only the living can praise the Lord”. I want you to live your life knowing that the Master can call you up at anytime that pleases Him, even while you are asleep, no one can question Him.

I lost 2 friends in an inferno here in Abuja just 3 months ago; some of you read it in the papers. PHCN (a.k.a NEPA) took the electricity as usual, so they told their security guard to switch on the generator, because they wanted watch Barak Obama’s campaign. Their mum had traveled (a day before) to inspect their new estate at Ile-Ife, which was near completion. Their Father went for a party of good friend who had just turn 60, told them he was coming back late. After the Obama speech, they went to bed. They had slept upstairs, in different rooms that night leaving their friends to sleep in the spare rooms downstairs.

When NEPA brought back the electricity, they were fast asleep, the security guard, switched off the generator and went to his room, along the line, there was power surge because the electricity was fluctuating, above the normal voltage, and the wires started melting, the next thing they knew was that the whole house was on fire, especially the upper part of the house. These two brothers from the same parents died of suffocation from the thick smoke, before the fire service operatives could get there, it was already too late. They were the only sons of their parents…. Ade was 25 and Yinka was 27, both were very successful in their chosen endeavors… the pride of their parents, wonderful friends… up till this moment, the parents have not gotten over the shock of their death. So, what are we talking about? They died in their own house. Yinka was meant to go back to school the next day.

Life is like a bus carrying us all on a jolly ride through the journey of time, some times the journey is smooth and sometimes its rough but whenever it gets to a bus stop, it stops for people to get in (given birth to) and also to get off (die), and the ride continues… all am saying is… how do you know that the next bus stop is not your last?

I read of the death of ace actor/comedian Bernie Mac in the newspapers….. I was so sad, I was one of his fans…that dude was so funny and I loved his movies… he was exceptional in the Ocean’s series (11, 12 and 13), but I loved him more in “5 kings of comedy”, who knows the next person that will be called to the upper room? Could be you … could be me.

Today is his birthday (I mean my friend Jide), and I just thought I should share this with you all. Happy Birthday my Friend, Happy Birthday Amigo. Still can’t find the words to describe how much I miss you. Your wife is doing fine… and your son looks so much like you…very handsome, Am still not married though, ha ha ha (that na tori for another day)…, but I believe you are in a better place… I hope to see you someday… one sweet day. Adieu.

This goes out to all those who have lost their loved ones, husband, wife, children, brother, sister…or a good friend. It’s such a painful experience… but God knows the best. As children of God, situations like this would can dampen our faith, but be encouraged in your spirit (Philippians 1:20-25) …because we know that they have gone to be with Him…and His plans for us are for our own good, for us to get to an expected end(Jeremiah 29:11), (Romans 8:28).
We shall all meet again on that day… that sweet day, till then… I remain Velli.

UNDER-RATED UNDERDOG

Wud up people? It’s still your boy- velli… how are y’all doing? Still here, doing what I do … staying alive. A lot’s been happening lately, but in all things, we give thanks to God. I have not been so regular in my writing these days… really sorry about that.

There is a popular saying that says that “pride goes before a fall”… I mean before a great fall… came across it here and there and it kinda caught my attention. I wonder what will give another man like myself the right to feel better or superior to my humble self for any reason under the earth. Does he not breathe the same air… like me? Does he not depend on food to survive… like me? Does he not go to bed… not knowing what tomorrow might bring? Does he not live… not knowing when the end might come… just like me? Does he not go to the toilet… and do justice (shit) when nature calls… just like me? What will make you feel so big, so proud and so arrogant? Is it the little change you have stashed in some account?

I went to submit some forms at the Ministry of Works some days back, after searching for about 30 minutes, I finally found the office, the receptionist kept me waiting for almost 2 hours before allowing me to see the man… so this man has been in the office all this time and didn’t feel like seeing anybody? A lot of things went thru my small mind while waiting…. Well, knocked and walked in, I saw a young man seated, face down, busy with a celebrity gossip magazine, I walked to his table and greeted politely, he raised his face looked at me and just continued doing what he was doing… (doing justice to that magazine) I greeted again assuming he did not hear the first greeting…. But he didn’t even respond… he was very busy indeed… I just stood there… for about 30 minutes…. Then finally he said…Can I help you?

So because God was merciful to you to put you in a position of authority, now you want play God? (Just a thought). I submitted the forms… and left his office feeling cool, as usual. What can I do... but to do what I came to do. I was only surprised that at this age and time, people can still be this ignorant; I don’t envy them at all. (Proverbs 3:27-32)
When people start looking down on fellow human beings, their downfall is near. The only thing higher than man is God, not even the angels, so why should a fellow man look down on you because he is well placed or richer or stronger than you.

The Super Eagles (Nigerian National Football Team) used to look down on other teams from smaller countries until when we learnt the bitter way, Gabon beat us by a lone goal to hinder us from going to the world cup some years back…. It was so painful. We also did the same with Angola, and we paid direly by missing the Germany 2006 world cup, serves us right. In the spirit of competition, if you win, thank God for giving you the grace, don’t feel like some big shot, with your shoulders touching the sky… it’s by God’s grace.(Proverbs 3:5-7) in my short life, I have seen champions defeated on the day of reckoning simply because they under estimated their opponents, I have seen very intelligent students fail exams, not because they did not study hard or knew the right answers, it was simply over-confidence. “I am better than everyone else, I can beat you with my eyes closed, I am the best there is, I can beat you silly, even on a bad day”… Who told you that?

Brazil underrated the Nigerian Olympic team at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, they still can’t say what happened to them, but their fall in that competition would best be described as “humpty-dumpty”, as written in the history books.
Never under estimate the power of God in any situation, don’t get carried away by your achievements and success…”If not for me, this would have happened, if not for my expertise…that would have happened, if not for my being clever and smart…. We would have lost that deal….” Who the hell are you? .... What can you do on your own?
Some people can’t just say two sentences without giving themselves all the glory and honour that should be given to God. “I did this at age 17… I achieved that at age 22… I made my millions at before age 25… if not for my hard work and determination…I won’t be where I am today…bla bla bla.”

Mike Tyson under estimated James Buster Douglas before their boxing bout in Japan in the early nineties, and that was the beginning of his fall; he never recovered from that defeat…. He was never the same again… let’s just say, that was the last he saw of the world boxing title.

If you think you are a giant like Goliath, then wait for the underrated underdog called David to put you in your right place, it will shock you. If someone had told Goliath not to go to that war, he would probably call you insane and cut off your head for insulting him…because the pride, arrogance and over-confidence wouldn’t let him listen to you. Some people are so full of themselves that there is hardly any space for the spirit of God to come into their lives, yet they call themselves Christians… am so sorry for them because they are just fooling themselves. The greatest virtue of Christ was humility… that guy was humble to a fault… and I love him for that… I wish I could be that humble, it’s not easy but I am still trying. The only way to be lifted up is to be down to earth, the way up the ladder of life is down, the way to heaven is six feet underground, (ha ha ha… just joking).

My father once told me that “sometimes a man has to be big enough to see how small he is”. Even after David was anointed the King of Israel, he was humble enough to still flee from Saul, respect him and had no hand in his death.


Some people just can’t help oppressing people around them in order to stay relevant, to flex some muscles to scare their subordinates. I have heard of women going as far as brutalizing their housemaids, just to show who is the boss in the house, what for? In some homes, when the children hear daddy’s car coming, they scamper for safety like rats, why? Which is why when they go to homes where there is true love of God, where parents care, they refuse to go home. Some men are natural monsters… they specialize in killing the joy of people around them, their wives, children, workers in the office, any where they go…. Listen Goliath, repent before you meet a David that will put you in your right place and that’s gonna be shameful. Why must your workers flee like mice when they see you coming around?

Lest I forget, when Peter gave in to hardship and decided to go back to his fishing business after working for 3 years with Christ, he convinced other disciples to go with him…. This was after they witnessed all the miracles, ate with the master, watched him die and resurrect. Listen, am not preaching, but you and I know that Peter fucked up big time… this time he blew it. How could you forsake your Master after all you’ve been thru with Him… well he did. When the Master came or appeared, I want you to observe what transpired… Jesus did not start by scolding him…men, am disappointed in you, Peter, you fucked up big time… Pete, you are fired… am so disappointed in you… am gonna do this… am gonna do that… you ingrate…after all I did for you… after all I taught you…how could you disgrace me like this… you are a huge disappointment… bla bla bla… (John 21:1-25).
Observe how Jesus reprimands him…. In a gentle and polite manner, talking to his conscience (Do you love me?) and Brother Peter felt sorry for his mistake…that’s what it’s meant to be.


If you truly love God, why will treat another people like a piece of trash? It was because of the love that Jesus had for mind kind that made Him to die for us, while we were yet sinners, even when we were unwilling to repent… some of us still haven’t. If you truly love the Lord, why not love the way He loved, care the way He cared, have compassion the way He did, and feel for your brothers instead of acting like some modern day Robocop.

In a situation where you are the underdog, stay focused cos you might bring a giant down soon, its only servants that can be promoted to leaders, and leaders either remain leaders or get demoted. So there is nothing bad in being the underdog…. And nothing bad in being the giant, it’s our ideologies that matters, our perception of life that makes the difference. If you see your fellow man in need like a brother in need, and you are touched by his condition and moved to help, in any small way possible according to your ability, then you are on the right path. Both Christianity and Islam preaches about humility, so when I see people misbehave because of the elevated platform that God has put them, I feel like weeping, cos if you can’t be a good leader that God wants you to be, then you have failed Him (and failed yourself too).

During the Monica Lewinsky case, Bill Clinton said “at any point you find yourself, life will always find a way to humble you, just to keep you in check and this is the case now, being the president of the most powerful country in world puts me in a very sensitive position, but God has used this situation to teach me a thing or two about life”

In conclusion, your position as an underrated underdog does not hinder you from achieving your dreams in life; it is just a temporary platform. A lot of successful businessmen started out as underdogs, drop outs, write offs, never-do-wells (whatever that means)… if God cannot forsake you, or look down on you, and then you should not bother about what people say or do to you now, pray they live to see what you become in future and then they will glorify God for your life.

They killed Jesus thinking that they would stop his mission, they only helped him fulfill it… ha ha ha, they planned against Daniel so as to make him compromise his faith and that resulted to his being thrown into the lion’s den. God just used that situation to promote him. They threw the three Hebrew children into the burning furnace, hoping to destroy their destiny… they ended up making them celebrities. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery thinking that they were pushing him down the success ladder… they were actually doing the opposite… ha ha ha, (they sent him to Egypt to go and fulfill his destiny without knowing it), what makes you think that your wicked boss is not doing the same?

I would like to close on this note, got to go now cos its getting late, wanna say thanks to all of you, for dropping by, sending me mails and making comments, am really grateful, thanks for your time and please do drop by again…so long… still your boy… velli.

SMALL GOAT MENTALITY

Hey everyone, how is it going, today was eventful… traveled for almost six hours to a near by town – Lokoja, I just thank God for journey mercies cos I saw some ghastly auto mishaps on my way back that scared the crap outta me… kept wondering if this was the same road I plied few hours earlier. Today, got to the bus park a little late which led to my missing the 7:30am bus, damn! I had to wait for the 9:00am bus… men it was a long wait. Well, I bought a mag to feed my eyes… what can a brother do?

As I was trying to keep my soul busy with the glossy pics, and juicy celebrity gossips… I couldn’t help overhearing two ladies sitting close to me gisting, well it was not that I was eavesdropping, I was minding my bizness when their conversation interrupted my line of thots… madam, sorry if you get to read this… I can’t stand anyone suing me for publicizing her issues… ha ha ha. Well, this lady in her mid thirties, well dressed kept complaining to the other lady how husband was begging to have her back… how the man had been cheating on her … sleeping around… how she was never gonna forgive him….

How she was going to punish him… how she was gonna make him regret the day he was born….wow, well am trying to be polite a bit cos the type of adjectives she used to qualify the poor man showed that she was really bitter and hurt, and if I use the exact words… you might have to classify this blogg as an 18 and above article. The cut was so deep that the poor lady could kill her husband… I felt so sorry, but what can I do? I could get a percentage of the man’s punishments if I don’t mind my bizness.

I couldn’t help thinking about the pain she would have been thru in her marriage, but I know men who have done worse, ask my aunt… some men are worthless, some sons are useless… some wives are whores…yes so what? God knew we were all these and still sent Christ to die for you and me… if God tabled all our sins… meeen! I should be a dead nigga by now but for His love and Grace. Why can’t we learn to totally forgive one another?

Some people just don’t forgive…and that is unchristian-like. Forgiveness is the only balm that can heal a bleeding heart. It comes from within… without it, you become a prisoner of conscience. You have to forgive and let go if you must be free other wise… you could stay miserable all your life for no just course. If people like Nelson Mandela could forgive those who had locked up for 27 years unjustly… who am I? Mind you, Mandela still lives in South Africa, not some dude written of in some history book.

The parable of the prodigal son is one of my favorites parables cos it tells a tale of a son who offended his father and family big time, his father sees him and immediately forgives and accepts him, restoring him to his original place, but his brother who doesn’t own the wealth becomes angry saying “all these years I have served you, you have never given me a small goat to go and make merry with my friends, but my younger brother…… and “ (Luke 15:28 -30), I thot somebody talked about seventy times seven somewhere… how can you harbour such grudge against someone… forgiveness has no substitute. I wish that lady would read this cos I wrote my blog site on a piece of paper and handed it over to her when we got to our destination, am sure she was shocked and surprised, that was all I could do.

Forgiveness is the key to genuine repentance…you have to forgive yourself to move on with life, but you must forgive those who trespass against you too, if I say it’s easy, then I must be lying, cos it’s not easy at all. It takes the grace of God but that is the bitter pill to swallow as a child of God.

Madam, If you are reading this, please forgive your husband and take him back… for the sake of the kids…pleeease. Don’t feel offended I put you biz on the streets, this goes out to all the women who have been hurt by their man, please forgive… and for all you cheating men, it takes a real man to stay committed to your spouse… a real man is a man of his words…and I must confess… the grass seems greener on the other side but it still tastes the same…it seems greener simply because of the reflection of the sun, a reflection is not the real image but representation of the image, reflections could be distorted or deceiving at times. You better stop cheating on your woman before you get yourself into some real deep shit… that might leave a sour taste on your mouth for the rest of your life.

My child hood friend Jamila is an orphan now because her mum got infected with the HIV virus from her dad… who was cheating with Jamila’s friend. It was so disgusting because the poor woman died first (she was anemic), the man committed suicide because he could not take the shame or face his children. Well, jamila’s friend traveled to the UK after her real boyfriend in school was hospitalized and diagnosed to be HIV positive. Jamila and her younger sister now live with an uncle in the city of Jos, who has been abusing them and refused to send them to school. All other relatives won’t take them in because they think jamila and her sister are jinxed. The last time I saw her, I could barely recognize her… looking so haggard and unkempt… I felt so sad.

This is what happens when you don’t let sleeping dogs lie.
On a sad note, I have to take my leave for today, stay hooked, don’t change the dial, and catch you soon….. So long…velli.