#FreedomFriday ~ Poolside Musings

Last week I was thinking about the man at the poolside in John 5:2-9 and I thought to myself…yes, this is the situation I’ve found myself and I can’t help me, but how do I maximize this lame-going-nowhere opportunity for the greater good? These are what I came up with, I’m sure there’s more!

1) Begin a talk-show at the poolside, with the families that have come and gone, have them tell the world about their stories (human interest angle) – Reporter.
2) Sell affordable, on-the-go necessary stuffs for people whilst they wait for the stirring of the water – Entrepreneur
3) Chronicle exceptional cases and healing, mine is one by the way – Writer
4) Cultivate and improve my communication/motivational skill – Motivational speaker
5) Arrange a pick-up/drop-off for who is willing – Uber services
6) Preach Jesus as the Way to receiving healing, rather than waiting for the angel because I got mine that way – Minister

What opportunities have you allowed slipped by you because you felt incapacitated? Behold and grab them.

@imaniking

©2017. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved.

#Abraham’s POV

Going through Abram’s time and his situation(s), I viewed his world through his eyes, but in our times. It’s #FreedomFriday and I get to do what I want – with freedom. Yippee!

I remember minding my own business and helping daddy out with his Cattle business with my brothers Nahor and Haran in Ur of the Chaldees, hopeful that when he passed on, the inheritance will become mine or at least most of it, as the eldest. I recall the many father-son conversations and bonding time we usually had in the cool of the evening sipping on coconut water, whilst waiting for food to be ready; strategizing on the best location for grazing the animals. Oh! How I truly loved those time, until Haran died and left Lot without a father. I remember them now with sadness.

You see, daddy had to relocate from Ur of the Chaldees heading towards Canaan (I’m not sure what the real reasons were though) but when he got to the city of Haran, he pitched his tent there and died there. Despite our bonding time, I couldn’t bring myself to tell daddy that God had spoken to me and told me to leave Ur of the Chaldees, my siblings and parents and follow Him blindly on promises of a great nation, blessing, a great name and the rest! Who would believe me? Surely they would think me crazy. So I played along and though I am sad he died in Haran, I’m sure you can connect with my feeling of relief that I didn’t have to break daddy’s heart after he lost Haran. Hmmm.

I obeyed God and left Haran, got into famine, left for Egypt, had to ‘battle’ with Pharaoh for Sarai, my fair-to-look-upon-drop-dead-gorgeous wife. Thank God they didn’t kill me there. And did I just thank Him? Yes o! He had a hand in my deliverance. From enemies without, to enemies within – my herdsmen and my nephew’s herdsmen having a scuffle amongst themselves. Over what? Grass and space! My own brother’s son, whom I allowed to join me. Shebi, God had said to leave them behind, but I couldn’t let him waste in the village and become a bum. Well, no issue, we parted.

Did I mention to you that Sarai was barren? Yes, God gave me silver, gold and cattle; you would say I became famous in a way. But I wasn’t satisfied. Who will I leave all these wealth for? Definitely not Lot! After changing our names from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah, God blessed us with Isaac. In-between, there was Ishmael, but I really didn’t have a hand in that matter, Sarah arranged it and I simply obeyed, (smiling at the thought).

God has come again o! (becomes pensive again) After all these years of listening to Sarah endure mockery from Nahor’s wife, then Hagar (her maid). After all these years that He had blessed us with Isaac and our home was filled with laughter, he says to me, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” – Gen 22:2 What will people say to me? That I left my inheritance for an unknown land, made blood money and used my son as sacrifice to appease the gods. They will not understand that God spoke to me. Why would God give me a son after all these years of waiting and then take him away from me by my own hand? *God, abeg if nah joke, I no dey laugh. If you wan kill am, use Your own hand. But then, Abraham says resignedly “I had no hope of ever having a son until He promised me one, so if He wants the son back, I will give him.” What will I say to Isaac? How will I convince Sarah? When did I become a mad man? I left family and friends, tired to deceive a King who had the power to take my head off because of my wife and now I want to kill my son, my long-awaited son, whom I planned on reliving the times Terah (my father) and I had. “When you are faced with this type of dilemma, who do you pray to?!” Abraham pondered as he gathered his bags for the journey of sacrifice.

#SpiritOfFaith #CrazyFaith

Words in Pidgin English:
*God if it is a joke, I’m not laughing with You. If you want to kill Isaac, do it yourself!

Picture Source: http://www.toughquestionsanswered.org/2014/02/21/commentary-on-genesis-11-12-abraham/

©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved.

#Peter’s POV

Peter’s Point of View – my paraphrase

This Bros Jay sef!

I had been telling Him when He came to meet me and asked me to join Him in His movement that we had a no-nonsense government in place already – one that didn’t even let our own leaders rule directly, but He wouldn’t listen (as usual!). He went from picking me to those two ‘confused’ boys James and John, Zebedees sons, who are forever fighting over each other and they are not even twins. Bros, chose Matthew – a much hated Tax-collector and a mix of some not-so-upwardly-mobile boys and to top it up, He added that guy with dubious past Judas. Shebi, He has seen where it led Him to – the death, and in the most ignoble manner of all – hung like a common thief. *Dis people get mind sha.

Come on! Let me ask you dear readers, what did Jesus really expect me to do in that situation? When those soldiers were everywhere and that little girl tried to expose me. Mehn! My people say, *‘to find way no be run, nah wisdom!’ I had to deliver myself from every accusation before they will hang not just one, but both of us. Who will continue the movement when He dies? I was only being wise for His sake.

After they hung Bros, things became tough, really hard and I needed to survive. At least when He was around, He used to do miracles, we will have bread and fish and leftovers sef. *The other time, nah fish bring us money! Bros Jay, if not for anything sha, I miss your miracles! You bin too much, abeg collect salute for where you dey. Twale!!!

As I was saying, I went back to Fishing. If it were you, what would you do? My CV was already tainted with the tagged ‘Activist, Instigating trouble wherever he goes’, how will I get any job (decent or not) with that? I went back to the seas, it didn’t ask for CV or for Referees, it just accepted me back like that. As for the others, they scattered in different directions. Tomorrow now, Jesus will ask “if I loved Him?” Should I used rope to tie the other ten disciples together? That dubious fellow whom I warned Jesus about had hung himself too and he didn’t even enjoy the money he betrayed Jesus for!

Hmmm, it is well.

Words in Pidgin English:
1) These people are really bold
2) To find a way of escape is wisdom
3) The other time, a fish brought us money. Brother Jay, if not for anything, I miss the miracles you did. You were on point! My respects are in order for you.

Picture Source: http://inspiredfountain.com/2007/06/27/get-out-of-that-boat/

©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved

#Remember

Jesus’ Point of View – my paraphrase

It’s been a long while ago I died!
In those days (even now), when people died, those alive mourned, they were saddened by that loss – because they weren’t going to see the person anymore. Or perhaps at the remembrance of how good the person was to them and how they will miss their benevolence or presence. But not so with me, and thinking about it, I’m wondering what I ever did wrong to deserve this. Oh! I remember, maybe once, I called them names. But between you and I, you would agree that name described them very well – Brood of vipers! Oh, I can never forget how flushed their faces became from the senior to the least priest nor how the blood drained from their faces and they became white! LOL. Hilarious!

But is that enough reason to hate me so much?! And before I forget, I also whipped and drove at those merchants (oops men of God) from the temple. It is a place of worship, I’m not sure who decided that selling there would bring more people. Did I tell them I was into networking or soul-winning?

Beyond that and maybe some personal grouse they had for me, all I did was good for them and yet when they had the chance, they whipped me bloodied, made me drag the cross from the city to Golgotha. I had to slice through the thickness of their hatred to get to the place of execution. The humiliation, the jeers, the stones, the rotten fruits they threw, the vinegar, the lewd words, they even played *Kaalu-kaalu over my clothes! No iota of respect for one about to die and for what? A trial without concrete evidence! They accused me of speech, that I said “I am the Son of God.” Am I not?! Why would I prefer a name I am not to the One I Am, funny bunch! I Am the Truth and I don’t do lies like their father, that ancient deceiver. I don’t have his time right now, let me address the issue at hand.

As I was saying before I went on history lane, how come when I died they rejoiced! No one was sad (except my mother and John), my beloved John! And where did Peter go shortly after that – to fish! Is that all I meant to him? One would think that after denying Me, he would look for ways to make up. Did his business mean so much to him than the Kingdom? Did he not understand when I said “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you!” Peter, dear Peter, I gave you an earlier sign that these things would happen. I even told you to be careful that the deceiver was seeking permission to render you useless, but you refused to listen. For someone that knew so much, you broke my Heart!

Word in Pidgin English:
*Kaalu-Kaalu: Gamble

Picture Source: https://www.hearthymn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/When-the-Lord-Jesus-was-crucified-he-said-%E2%80%9CIt-is-finished.%E2%80%9D-Can-that-prove-that-God%E2%80%99s-end-time-work-has-also-been-accomplished.jpg

©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved