#ThankfulThursday – Known Victories

God has indeed been faithful! He has delivered dear friends and family from illness and accidents that had been fatal. He turned mourning into dancing without us having to engage in the mourning section of the ‘movie’. So you see when I give a dance, a song, or let the joy in me break into words unplanned. It is because of Known Victories. Please join me in celebrating these victories.

And just so You are reminded, I yob You to …You know!

©2016. Frances Kelvin Otung. All rights reserved

#LyricalMonday – Dead to Me

In death is life! Another opportunity to be reborn, to start afresh. I don’t know about tomorrow, but for today – you are ‘dead’ to me.

©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