Author Archives: blackwordist

Growing up, I have had to stand outside our house after most political elections and then see whichever political party that won, make fun and mockery of the other political party. On some occasions the winning party creates caskets and cover it with the flag of the other party while they take round the community chanting songs of mockery. This often escalate into riots and fights. Unfortunately, this keeps repeating itself again and again after each political election.

Most people have no choice than to find safety wherever they deem safe. As much as I believe that there might be many factors attached to this, we cannot neglect the place of mental health and the need for psychologist in our society.

It is funny to find out that 99% of blacks and Africans do not see the need to regularly visit a psychologist because they believe psychologist are meant for those insane and those trying to beat addiction. Outside that, we do not see any other thing as a mental illness. I will however bet you that majority of us have issues especially with anger management and it has cost us a lot. A publication by Aljazeera in Oct 2019 has it that “One in four Nigerians suffers from mental illness, but help is hampered by tight budgets and a lack of skilled staff.” Such a shocking number don’t you think? A lot of thngs down here can get you to your breaking limits and hence necessitating the need for us to start placing great importance on our mental health. This is because, only through this can we start building meaningful communities and societies.I know that things aren’t always easy here and I wish the government can do something about it. We came taking a lot of injuries because we have people who mentally are ill but not insane.

Our mental health is important.

JOHN AND MOLLY WESLEY.

It’s glad to have you join through this journey. Last week I shared with us from a book I was reading and as continuation of that book, I will share my perspective on the marriage of John and Molly Wesley.
Most of us are familiar with the name “Wesley.” I believe it is like a household name to most of us. Who are the Wesleys? So far in the book “Martin Luther had a wife,” Wesley seem to have the worst marriage. William Petersen has it recorded that a biographer once said “along with Xanthippe and Job’s wife, Mrs Wesley had to be rated as one of the worst wives in all of history.” And another Biographer had said “then Wesley will be the worst husband.”
I think the issue with the Wesley household had less to do with them and more with external forces and how they allowed such had a hold in their life. To me, John had married Molly to get back at Charles his brother and the Holy club. He had earlier promised not to get married without their permission. He then eventually met Grace Murray, a widow who shared in his dreams, purpose and enjoyed going on missions with him. But when his brother and the Holy club heard of this, they convince her into marrying someone else for his own dignity and integrity. Though some biographers didn’t absolutely think he will have married her anyway. Prior to her, he had about 3 broken engagement and there was no evidence that with her, he will complete his vow. It was after this that John met Molly (a widow) and they eventually got married. Unlike everything with Grace, Molly didn’t really had to fit into any list nor did he go after the Holy club nor his brother for approval.
Later on, Molly will complain about how the church treats her as if she is not one of them.

On a certain mission, a biographer has recorded that Molly complaint allthrough. Molly wanted to be acknowledged and recognised, but Wesley gave her little or no attention. His mind was always focus on preaching and preaching. At a point, Molly is recorded to have left him, and then returned after a while before they separated again and she eventually died.

In my opinion, Molly and Wesley really didn’t put much energy into preserving their marriage. Wesley was always busy and Molly had her own world to deal with. Everyone was a separate entity on its own.

Molly had at some point complain about the high number of lady admirers Wesley had and Wesley did nothing about. Some series of letters are recorded to have been intercepted by Molly which she tried giving to the media houses to ruin his reputation and probably bring him back home. I think Wesley is a man who Celibacy might have fit perfectly. He was radical as Paul and needed nothing to hold him back. This I think was probably one of the factors that held him back from getting married early.

It takes two to make a marriage work. We are married only to each other and must try as much as possible to deal with external influence. I am no marriage expert, but I Know it should be taken seriously. It takes a deliberate and intentional couple to make it work.

Thank you for reading this far. Hope you had a wonderful time and I hope you did look for this book to read and judge for yourself. I will continue the subsequent chapters and I pray it blesses you.

Thank You.

If you’re reading this, I want to let you know that it is nice having you here and I am appreciative of you having to follow us up this far.

Lately, I have been on a journey through this book titled “Martin Luther had a wife and did John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Dwight Moody, William Booth, William Carey, Billy Graham and Adoniram Judson”. This book gives an amazing insight into the life of these men and their wives and so also a little of Their journey through Faith.
I have not finished reading the book yet, but I felt it is something I should share as I read deeper.

The first time I saw this book, I thought it was talking about “Martin Luther king jr” because I didn’t get to see the title clearly. It is a fascinating and amazing book that has so far opened me to up the beauty within serving. I will try and take their lives one after the other and almost everything here, will be based on my perspective and view. You are free to correct me and share more light.

MARTIN AND KATHIE LUTHER.
Martin Luther is said to be the father of the Protestant movement. Martin’s father had always hoped he did become a lawyer. However, after his Master’s Degree he had a turning point and decided to become a Catholic monk.

In the course of his studies, Martin had a different view about rituals and certain duties to obtain salvation and with time protested against the Catholic church. After that, Series of events took place and through such, he ended up meeting Kathie a nun he had helped to escape from the convent.

The matrimony between Martin and Kathie, wasn’t on the premise of love. However, I am still fascinated by how the got it to work. Martin married Kathie somehow as a rebound and to also clear the air over certain rumours of his affairs with the nuns he had rescued. Bibliographers had it that, Martin had a quick outburst while Kathie on her own part was outspoken. Typically we might expect a lot of issues with this union and they did for a little while until they found their bearing.

I saw one partner willing to compromise in one aspect and vise versa. Through years of being together, they became strongly affectionate of each other and built love. The letters sent to Kathie by Martin still fascinate me of the amount of affection he had for her. Reading through their story, I could picture myself standing right there.

Love happens when we accept we are not perfect and try to work on ourselves. It is a decision never to give up on your partner; it is the will power to stay and build regardless.

-Danladi Nengak Precious

SOLITUDE

Trials and tribulations,
to my faith, a strengthening
they did be.

Amidst plenty
and amidst pleasure,
may my ever shaking faith,
stand firm.

Amidst Oceans of crows
and rainbows of owls,
let my gaze be upon the cross:

A place where
solitude hangs

SOLITUDE

Trials and tribulations,
to my faith, a strengthening
they did be.

Amidst plenty
and amidst pleasure,
may my ever shaking faith,
stand firm.

Amidst Oceans of crows
and rainbows of owls,
let my gaze be upon the cross:

A place where
solitude hangs

TOOLS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE PURPOSE
“We can take no credit for our gifts. It’s what we do with them that matters” -Mary Burchell.

To everyone who has been following this series, we say thank you and we also hope it has been a blessing to you. If in the past you knew not what your Purpose was, we hope with this you have been able or been trying to discover it.
For this week, we will be talking about the “Tools to achieving Purpose.” Overtime, I have come to realize that many people mistake these tools for their purpose.
In order to effectively carry out the purpose and assignment of God over our lives, God deposited in us innate gifts and potentials. These gifts and potentials are to help us fulfil our purpose.
These gifts includes writing, singing, painting, public speaking and a host of others. These are tools that help us to achieve whatever our Purpose is.
Sometimes we may not have clarity on our purpose but these gifts happen to be pointers to where we are going. The peculiarities of an assignment demands special tools for such work. For example if your purpose is to connect with children and teens, Things like animation, singing and other similar talents can be tools to achieve this. Tools make the fulfillment of purpose possible and often times easier.
These tools can be innate and will also need to be developed for better delivery. You really cannot do everything and should not put your hands to do everything.
Whatever you find yourself doing, Make sure it aligns with your purpose.
Here are a few list of tools to achieving Purpose among many

1. Singing
2. Writing
3. Dancing
4. Public speaking
5. Teaching
6. Painting e.t.c
   Without knowing what our purpose is, we can sometimes focus on these tools and then end up with no results. These tools are divine gifts that helps us navigate across the waters of Purpose. God has prepared us with these and it’s up to us to build and harness them depending on the situation or what are the demands of our purpose.
   Let us fan these gifts as a Workman prepares his tools for work; Not as though the tool is the work but that it provides for efficient and effective delivery of the work required.
   Let us not be carried away by our gifts and talents, usurping all the glory and forget that there’s a people to reach and deliver; a message to send; a problem to solve and a work that needs to be done. Focus on what really matters!
   Thank you for reading. We believe this was helpful. Kindly share to others as well.

Lullabies lullabies.

Of men not to serve
other gods but Him alone.

Of desert tales
to a new generation.

Of plagues and doom
to the oppressors.

Of power and might,
a covering of cloud by day
and a pillar of fire by night.

Of water from a rock
and food from the sky.

Lullabies being told
by the priest everyday, yet our ears
are as baskets: They cannot hold these.

We sleep on them thinking
of iniquity and evil.
We desire slavery: over freedom.

Nomads of sins.

Hello God!
Hello God!!
are you out there?
Can you hear me?

I am between the devil
and the deep blue see.
Somehow, your existence
is becoming oblivious to me.

Is my life a story book for children
that has lessons and warnings in them?
It is said that you are timeless.
Could it be that you are busy
writing and reading this novel
to Baby Jesus with lessons on the importance
of His coming.

Life is no bed of roses,
the torns now are my world
can you hear me or should
I keep on imagining.

I know you said in your word
that you are not deaf to our cry
but how do I know that?

I know you answer in three ways:
Yes, no and wait.
But this waiting seems difficult God.

Sometimes it pushes me into thinking you are silent
and into having the most foolish thoughts
Have mercy and forgive me God