Author: Deji Okegbile

John Wesley at 315: Hope for ‘Endangered’ Church

John Wesley at 315: Hope for ‘Endangered’ Church

Posted by | Jun 18, 2018 | , , , |

John Wesley, not just as a figure of history or simply for information concerning a past age provides an inspiration in such a time when declining church membership is taking its toll on the physical state of houses of worship in many nations. Wesley’s life, the life that began 315 years ago in the fenland of Epworth and shaped by the symbol of fire is a missional and dynamic testimony; it prompts the prayer, ‘Lord, do it again.’ We are now in a situation when many churches are now trying to preserve their historic buildings. Beyond the endangered World...

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FATHERING, A SPIRITUAL COVENANT: Plant seeds, pull weeds.

FATHERING, A SPIRITUAL COVENANT: Plant seeds, pull weeds.

Posted by | Jun 17, 2018 | |

Wishing all fathers and families a renewing and joyous Father’s Day. The real and spiritual essence of Father’s Day celebration calls us to the truth about God, marriage, family and the human person. The Hebrew word for father, ‘ad,’ is derived from Hebrew baby sounds (‘abab,’ ‘Papa,’). This background with reference to the role of the father, as revealed in the Old Testament and New Testament is inextricable from the understanding of salvation and God’s grace (Ps 89:26; Is 63:13; Prov 3:12, Eph 6:1-4). Father’s Day celebration is another opportunity to all men to take fathering seriously and make...

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What is thicker and eternal than blood? Taking Jesus spiritually, not just literally.

What is thicker and eternal than blood? Taking Jesus spiritually, not just literally.

Posted by | Jun 11, 2018 | |

The Gospel reading from Mark 3:20-35 asked us to identify with people who sit at Jesus’ feet. In the height of our post-modern popular culture, Jesus calls us into an unpopular, strict, and seemingly renewal culture and group who put God first in their lives in everything. The invitation to follow Jesus, to live as he lived by making the will of God the first thing in our lives point to the importance of spiritual relation beyond the biologic relation. This brings to our reflection, the saying, blood runs thicker than water, but there’s something thicker than blood.  It...

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HEALING FOR A ‘WITHERED HAND’ CHURCH: BEYOND MANMADE LAWS.

HEALING FOR A ‘WITHERED HAND’ CHURCH: BEYOND MANMADE LAWS.

Posted by | Jun 5, 2018 | , , |

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched...

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TRINITY: A Call to Personal Reconciliation with the Vision of Holy One

TRINITY: A Call to Personal Reconciliation with the Vision of Holy One

Posted by | May 27, 2018 | , , , |

Trinity Sunday began to be observed in England under St Thomas Becket in the 10th century and then spread to the rest of Western Christendom. Holy Trinity Sunday is the First Sunday after Pentecost, ushering in the season when the church hears about Jesus’ ministry and then about the church’s own ministry. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost as symbolic of the unity of the God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The endless paradoxes in the Athanasian Creed: ‘not three eternals, but one eternal, not three uncreated, but One uncreated …’ may sound like some great riddle...

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