Author: Deji Okegbile

‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time’ -1 Tim 2:1-6 To God be the glory for the emergence of the new British Prime Minister Mrs Theresa May (nee Brasier) as she is preparing to take over on Wednesday 13th July 2016 from Mr David Cameron. Let us thank God for Mr Cameron and his wife for putting the best interest of United Kingdom first at all times. Let us ask God to direct their footsteps, abide with them, and that the rest of their life together shall be the best in Jesus’ name. Our new Prime Minister, Mrs Theresa May, born 1 October 1956 is described as ‘a hardworking and highly respected local MP (Maidenhead constituency) and has been a valued and very supportive member’ of St Andrew’s Church family, close to the River Thames...

The Jericho Road is both literal and metaphorical. The Jericho Road in the Middle East is about 18 miles northeast of Jerusalem, dangerous, winding, and a treacherous road. Metaphorically and with reference to the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10, Jericho Road stretches around the globe and beyond the Middle East. Jericho Road is a hostile place, war zone, where there is violence; where there is oppression and where people are robbed of their dignity and freedom. The Jericho Road is always with us as families, churches and nations.  The Jericho Road of EU Referendum, the Jericho Road of downtown Dallas shooting, the Jericho Road of the Refugee, the Jericho Road of racial discrimination, hatred and division. Jericho Road is about life, half dead marriage, half dead business, or life on the edge. Jericho Roads points to dead-end roads including the roads of separation and repression, where we assume that the ‘Remainers and Leavers,’ will go their own ways and where one group or one person thinks they have the right way, and the others do not. The Good News is that Jericho Roads are not beyond God’s redemption and healing. The Jericho Roads of life are filled with different people including priest, the Levite – those who interpret the Law, the lay leaders, the teacher of the law, and the good Samaritan. The good Samaritan in this...

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance.”  (Psalm 33:12) This title is usually the other way around, but in such a critical time as this, America need to bless God. We bless God by living as true witnesses to our Christian faith to glorify God on earth. In dependence upon God, the American Founding Fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honour. The fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence put their lives on the line, ‘nine died of wounds and hardship during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, and in each case subjected to torture.’ According to Benjamin Franklin at the  American Constitutional Convention in July 1797, ‘all of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor….’  In the beginning, America found a good friend in Jesus, in their pains, griefs, trials and temptations. When America was ‘weak and heavy-laden. Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour …,’ was their refuge and Friend. The question asked by Franklin 219 years ago continue to resonate and calls for a sincere and humble reflection by all my American friends and other nations founded upon Christian heritage. Franklin asked his fellow Americans, ‘have we now forgotten this powerful Friend?  Or do we imagine we no longer...