THE UNTOLD NATIVITY STORY [PART IV]

Michael arrived at the sun and dove in… he arrived before the woman and bowed at the baby… 

“I have to take him now” 

“No” the woman shrieked… the pains of childbirth suddenly raining on her… 

“If you ever want to see him again” Michael stopped her short “You have to let me… else the dragon will kill him” 

The woman lifted her eyes and saw the dragon pull the host of heaven towards the sun despite the number that buffeted him. 

The woman reluctantly handed her baby over to Michael just as Ramaliel arrived with broad wings… 

“Ramaliel will guide you to earth where you will spend three years and one half years before your son is brought to you” Michael told the woman who observed that Ramaliel was a female angel. She received a bit of comfort from this knowledge. 

The baby snuggled close to Michael but kept staring at his mum. She reached out her forefinger and touched his cheeks… the baby smiled and the sun glowed a notch warmer… Then Michael took off with the baby travelling at lightning speed and Ramaliel dipped towards earth with the woman. 

By the time Michael set out for the abode of Jehovah… Raphael and Ariel had finished decimating the hordes and set out to end the reign of the dragon in the skies… while still struggling, the dragon saw Michael and Ramaliel go separate ways with wanted bundles… his confusion was compounded by the onslaughts of the host around him… 

He had no idea what hit him next… but he found himself spiraling uncontrollably down to earth… 

“Hallelujah” Raphael screamed “Hallelujah” the host echoed for eternity 

As the dragon landed on earth, the foundations of the planet juddered… he lay there in defeat breathing curses on earth and swearing to rip humanity to shreds before his time was done… then he lifted his head and saw the woman and Ramaliel fly far ahead… he screamed in rage… sulfur spewed forth till water soon followed… the fountains of Poseidon burst forth in him and he let it all out. 

As the raging waters pursued the woman and Ramaliel… the hungry desert opened up and swallowed every water drop until the dragon could spew no more venom… then the dragon crashed in devastation 

Several towns away… while shepherds watched their flock by night… the third legion of angels that had been waiting for the battle to be won broke through the cloud cluster and sang 

“Hosanna…Hosanna… Hosanna in the Highest” …On the front row Gabriel the archangel, screamed his lungs out in excitement… 

“Hosanna…Hosanna… Hosanna in the Highest… Blessed be the King of all creation ...The Lord Sovereign, born this day in Bethlehem… Hosanna, salvation has come and the grave shall be defeated… hosanna” 

Have Merry Christmas people… If you need Biblical reference for this story, read Revelations 12

Watch out for more Untold Scripts in 2014....

THE UNTOLD NATIVITY STORY [PART III]

… Michael saw the dragon retreat and understood what he was up to. He stuck his fore finger and thumb

under his tongue and whistled majestically to Jeniel. The whistle travelled through the ranks of heaven’s host like a light wave. Jeniel, the blonde haired angel didn’t need any special commands to know his cue.

 He swung his lasso with stainless Stagmantium hooks at the retreating dragon and pulled with holy venom. The dragon wailed in frustration as a quarter of its tail was dismembered… but the dragon didn’t care what injury he sustained… it would all be worth it when he laid his claws on the sinless child… 

The new born king wailed again, but it sounded like a giggle… His mother wrapped twinkling arms around him and wept in rapture at the beauty of the blessing. Indeterminate emotions swam through her sparkling form as she beheld God in her arms… she was oblivious of the carnage going on around her… all her mind could contain was the joy of having God wrap his little fingers around her pinkie 

Jeniel swung again… this time at the dragon’s wing… the dragon couldn’t ignore this anymore, especially with onslaughts ripping him apart from everywhere… weapons he didn’t even know existed (apparently invented since his eviction from heaven) ripped his igneous scales… if he continued without fending this off, he would never make it to the baby… 

This hesitation was another grave gaffe… in a trifling, Michael sped past him… headed to the mother and baby… the dragon opened his mouth to spew fiery sulphur but a seven-headed spear the size of a tower sank into his throat… Rephuel held on to the spindle of the rotating spear as the dragon thrashed… 

Meanwhile Raphael’s legion and Ariel’s battalion had the hordes surrounded… the horde ranks were filled with moans and woes and curses and spite… the demons cringed with hate at their one time brothers… deep within the demon ranks, beyond the view of the flaming angels… Balrog was building a contingency plan… 

Within a matter of eons, Balrog and a great number of demons broke through the lower guard of the angels and spiralled downwards towards earth… Ariel made to follow with his battalion but Raphael restrained him 

“Earth will suffer their rage for a time and half a time” Raphael said and then he heralded to the host surrounding the hordes “Now slaughter to the uttermost… let not one scum escape” 

“For the Lord Mighty in Battle” Ariel screamed and the host echoed for eternity “For the Lord Mighty in Battle” as they descended on the remaining hordes… this was decimation redefined…

The concluding part drops a few days before Christmas...

THE UNTOLD NATIVITY STORY [PART II]

… by the time the Dragon realized what had happened… his hordes were under heavy siege… he had been

led right into an ambush… he should have known…

He spun round in time to see a battalion of angels headed towards him in a blaze of glory… their swords drawn… Michael, the prince, led the attack. The dragon spewed forth burning sulphur as he flew to meet them. His move was anticipated because the battalion of angels parted in the middle… flying sideways and his flame of sulphur sped past the split battalion. 

He swung his tail to rip the split half to his right and spun his breath on the half to his left. As he spun his tail, the spikes cut through the magnetic flux field holding the constellation Orion together and the stars flew in every direction. 

This move was to his own detriment because the burning stars flamed through the ranks of his hordes already under attack by the angels. Shrieks of woe broke out in their lines. Ariel who led the battalion annihilating the horde rode the blazing trail of the Nebula, drawn sword slicing through demon slime… 

 “To the Lord Mighty in Battle” He screamed and the host with him returned the call “To the Lord Mighty in Battle” 

Behind the demon horde, the legion in the first cloud cluster led by the beautiful Raphael descended with such brightness that another string of shrieks broke out in the ranks of the dragon’s hordes… they were helmed in by light and the blazing stars spun amongst them… this was sure defeat. 

The Dragon was caught in between battling the battalion of angels attacking him from all angles… flying to the aid of his hordes… or attacking the woman who was close to birthing his nemesis. This moment of hesitation cost him more than he could ever bargain for… 

 Michael swooped under the dragon’s belly, swinging his sabre tooth claymore (about the size of a limousine), just as the woman screamed again. The claymore clanged as it hit igneous scales… split them and swept through fiery dragon flesh… 

The dragon shrieked and growled in anger, pain and confusion… he knew heaven’s host would be waiting but he never anticipated this onslaught. A 3-ton mallet slammed into his chest and the living sulphur was knocked out of him… Jahaziel the ebony angel repeated this motion and the dragon swung his wings in retreat. 

Every other thing could wait… “Get the child and they are at your mercy” he reminded himself… he retraced his flight path back to the sun… the woman screamed again… this time around it was long-drawn and ended in a fainting moan… 

 Then the dragon heard the sound… the wail of majesty… God’s cry in a baby’s voice… divinity in a mortal’s pant… the arrival of greatness… the birth of his nemesis… he swung his wings harder… he had to get to that child before anyone else…

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THE UNTOLD NATIVITY STORY [PART I]

A lone angel flew at lightning speed past the first cloud cluster with his sword drawn. His brazen chest was

about 4 ft. wide… a streak of light trailed him as he flew past the observer… He dipped low and disappeared behind a second cloud cluster. Instants later he slowed down in front of a legion of angels floating behind the cluster.

They were all broad chested and wore shiny bronze armour on their stainless white garbs. Their swords where all sheathed but they had their hands on the hilts. The combined glory of all their swords would have attracted unwanted notice, had they been drawn. 

“They approach” the lone angel, Ariel, told the leader of the legion… the leader was none other than Michael… the Prince of angels… third in command of heaven’s host… glorious in his gait and beautifully fierce 

“And the woman?” Michael asked in a soft stern voice 

“The legion guarding her is well hidden from the dragon’s view” Ariel reported 

“Let’s make Our Lord proud” Michael stared at all the angels stationed over the skies of Palestine. This was the most important mission of the age. Their master was about to be born as man and the dragon was aware of the plan by now. Their duty was to decimate the dragon’s horde… the first legion that Ariel had passed earlier on was stationed to protect the messiah and his mother… and there was a third legion – their mission, covet… 

Then the woman screamed in birth pangs… the clouds spun in response to her screams and she came into view. She was wrapped up with the sun which made her skin twinkle like galaxy cluster of stars. Her feet were spread apart by the moon’s radiance. Her arms and legs were covered in a shiny white garment…

Then the dragon arrived at the girth of the blazing sun… burning sulphur flowed forth from his nostrils as he raged. His hordes could not come near the heat of the sun… the few that attempted had their wings set ablaze and fluttered away. 

The woman screamed again and the dragon responded with a heart wrenching shriek, followed by a rumbling growl… it was obvious the dragon was waiting for the child to be born… his burning eyes mirrored the glare of the sun… oblivious of the legion of angels behind the thick cloud cluster just a few miles from the sun. 

Then a trumpet blast rent the sub-silence of the heavens… it was like a peeling thunder wrapped in a war cry… a storm roused by the fluttering wings of two legions of angels followed suit… and the dragon spun around in surprise…

The Untold Nativity Story continues... look out for Part II

THESE TEARS

These tears just won’t roll down

 I refuse to give them a way out

 For I’m still living, still breathing, still dreaming

They may swell to the bank of my eyes

 But this red sea won’t drown my thankfulness 

Cos I’m still seeing, still blinking, still thinking 

They won’t make me weaker, yet they won’t make me stronger

 However, sadness displays my distrust in His promises 

It might seem as if He’s missing in action 

That I may have become a casualty; a POW 

But the servitude of Israel in Egypt didn’t change His faithfulness 

Though this pilgrim faces the Apollyons, the Beelzebubs 

The Pharaohs, I won’t give these heathen the pleasure 

of seeing me drown… For I have a God, a Father 

He wears The Crown… though this torn gets harder 

He’ll whisk it away… So I choose thanks today 

Maybe not for my present place 

I do so in retrospect of yesterday… 

These tears just won’t roll down 

Though they sting the lids of my heart 

Begging release… requesting reprieve 

I choose to turn this beggar’s hat to a shade from the weather 

Though wilderness widens and threatens 

 I smell the milk and honey of Canaan 

So I will keep swinging the sword of righteousness 

With “Thank you Father” ever on my lips 

No! I won’t murmur… I refuse to be a memory in the dessert 

My name will be written in Gold in the Hall of Faith 

Maybe not for ripping lions or mocking raging flames 

But it will be said that I triumphed the 21st Century 

With JESUS boldly emblazoned on my HEART 

With THANKFULNESS ever on my lips 

This night will NOT see my tears 

For I have the SON… and because He’s ever here

 Even Hades is dawn…So, I refused to be dressed in fear 

Keeper of promises… This is my Thank you 

For everyone that’s turning their tears to Thank You 

 right now… for everyone still Standing for You 

for broken hearts, the buffeted, the castaways, 

the faithful that are still Thankful… 

 I Thank You on their behalf…

ORIENTATION OF A KING VIII

The whole mountain was ablaze with glory… such glory that the particles of the mountain vibrated

individually yet a strange force held them together. Kunle Smith could see the light at the peak and he knew exactly where Moses was. He held out his hand behind him to help Eti up. They had taken a trip to Mount Sinai for lessons on the old and new covenants.

They could hear that thunderous voice that tripled the blend of all waterfalls… that same voice that soothed the aches they had accrued from coming this far up the mountain. Kunle felt more alive than ever… His bones tingled as he got closer to the source of the glory and he knew this lesson would be a classic. 

They passed Joshua who had come up as Moses’ aid but couldn’t go too near for fear of dying. From this distance, his body glistened like he was wrapped in a glowing translucent skin… 

“Whoa” Eti exclaimed when he noticed the pure and fiery blood in Joshua’s veins which were obvious through the glowing skin. “Why did he stay back dad?” 

“In a moment son” Kunle answered 

 They finally arrived the source of light but they couldn’t see anything for even Moses had been wrapped up in the light. The light was a glowing cloud… it was existence but wasn’t… the words to describe it exist but not in human language… Kunle was entranced just staring at the light and drinking in the essence that flowed from it. 

Eti reached out his hand and touched the glowing cloud… and it parted… Eti stepped in but Kunle was too weak to enter… he fell on his knees and began to weep… this was the most beautiful and raging sight he had ever seen… his weeping became screams of ecstasy… He saw himself being transformed into the same image that Joshua had… only, his was more advanced… every nerve in his body was obvious through his skin… 

He beheld the intricate design of man through his own eyes… and he understood why God had said “Very good” when he finished creating man… man is a masterpiece of creation… he couldn’t imagine what Eti was experiencing… 

Eti, however, had been transported into an eternal world of light. He saw Moses afar off and ran towards him, but the more he ran towards him the farther Moses appeared to be. So he stopped and knelt down, not in frustration but in an overwhelming fulfilment, he had found light… the source of light… he was not going anywhere… this was his new home 

Then a hand rested on his shoulders and he looked up but couldn’t see any face… yet he was conscious of the hand on his shoulders… then the being spoke…. Oh what a beautiful experience… this was nothing like the descriptions of heaven in comics or blockbuster flicks… this was better 

“Joshua couldn’t approach me like you can because… the gap between humanity and I had not been bridged yet” The being continued “only few could approach me at certain times that the Holy Spirit rested on them… one of them was Moses… but the gap has been bridged… that is what Jesus Christ has done for you Son”

TWENTY MINUTES TO LIVE

The other end of the line was silent and all Prof Timmy could hear was his wife’s sobs… he couldn’t bring himself to imagine the emotional anguish she was suffering… She was not crying because he had melanoma… but because he wouldn’t give up his stupid atheistic theories…

Timothy Doug a.k.a Prof Timmy had just been told by his oncologist that his melanoma had finally worn down his immunity and he had barely minutes to live… from his last chemo the degeneration had become so rapid that the results today had thrown the oncologist aback…

Prof Timmy had married Linda right out of the university - Both of them where Philosophy majors and favoured atheistic schools of thought. However, five years down the line, Linda had an epiphany, accepted Christ and spent the next 24 years pleading, cajoling, arguing with, and wearying her husband to join her school of thought.

Out of a need to be the man of the home, Prof Timmy had stayed stubborn throughout those years… He was the most loving husband, friend and brother that Linda could have asked for but they always differed on this note… their kids all favoured their mum’s school of thought – a condition that further emasculated Prof Timmy’s pride.

“Did he mention how long you have?” Linda finally asked amidst sobs

“Minutes” Prof Timmy responded with a lump in his throat

More silence… his oncologist stared as Prof Timmy wiped a lone tear off his cheeks

Prof Timmy finally asked the question he had avoided for the last 34 years

“Is it accurate that unregenerate humans end up in eternal anguish?”

 The other end was silent for a while… Linda couldn’t fathom why her atheist husband was asking about hell… so she waited for a repeat

“Darling… did you hear me?” Prof Timmy reiterated his question

“It is true” Linda’s smile even in tears could be felt through the air waves

“I don’t want to be separated from you for eternity” Prof Timmy continued as tears flowed freely down his cheeks “Even if it’s for the joy of seeing you in the afterlife… I want to receive that thing that has brought you peace in the last 24 years” ***

This was about 9 months ago… and Prof Timmy is still breathing… his healing process started the moment he accepted Christ… Do not wait until it’s too late before you accept Christ.

ADAM & STEVE

Steve entered the Hotel suite gingerly… not quite sure about what he could or could not touch… the

opulence was beyond compare. All his life, he had only read about such grandeur in books… the ones he even saw on TV didn’t feel as magnificent. He shut the door behind him and wandered into the presidential suite…

 “Steve is that you?” Adam’s voice echoed from the bathroom 

 “Good afternoon sir” Steve’s stuttered in fear and intimidation 

“I’ll be with you shortly… or do you care for a bubble bath?” Adam asked 

 The last two words struck alarm bells in Steve’s spirit. The last time he checked lifestyle lingua, bubble baths were for ladies. Or did it mean something entirely different in this palatial ambience? Curiosity pulled his guts and he walked past too many gold and glass items before arriving at the Jacuzzi… 

His lifestyle intellect was still prime… Adam was soaking in the Jacuzzi alone, sipping from a glass of champagne… Holy God… Steve thought… he had outdone himself this time around. 

 Steve had really thought he was favoured when the producer (Adam) called him aside after his auditions and told Steve he looked right for lead role. Adam had given him his room Key Card and room number… “Meet me by three pm for further arrangements”… Steve never knew “further” would be this far 

“Come on… Hop in” Adam urged 

“Where?” Steve puzzled 

“Quit acting like a novice… let’s have fun before we seal the deal” Adam purred like a cat seeking attention

“Oh… if it’s this kind of fun sir… I am a novice” Steve retorted sarcastically 

“What do you think I gave you my key card for?” Adam quizzed and rose from the Jacuzzi… covered in suds but nude enough for too much to be seen… the awe of the opulence around Steve lifted as a righteous anger washed over him… 

Steve didn’t care how things were done in Lagos, but he sure knew how spiritual matters where settled. Adam’s condition wasn’t a psychological mishap, this was a demonic oppression… and Steve had spent years working spiritual dynamics in the hamlets surrounding Awka before God asked him to move to Lagos and start a media ministry… 

Filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit Steve barked thunderously “You master in every form of lewdness, licentiousness and lustful and perverted emotions, will you not cease leading young men astray…? Now behold the hand of the Lord is upon you and you have been struck with leprosy until you denounce the rule of that demon over your life” 

Straightaway Adam’s skin paled and sores broke out on his skin… Adam shrieked in horror as he stumbled out of the Jacuzzi and ran towards Steve. 

“Please help me… I didn’t mean it” 

Before he got to Steve… Steve barked again “Stay in the name of Jesus” and Adam met an invisible brick wall… he fell backwards and thrashed… 

“Denounce that evil spirit and receive your healing now” Steve barked again… 

“I denounce homosexuality… please help me” Adam shrieked as a thousand heats pierced his skin 

“please I’m dying… help me… I denounce it” “You demon of homo-sexuality… you perverted philia… by the authority in the name of Jesus, come out now!” Steve barked at the demon that was raging in Adam Adam twisted a thousand times before finally lying still… 

*** 

Homosexuality is not a natural disposition and it’s not a psychological defect; it is a demonic possession… Tell the ones (both male and female) you know to seek Jesus and He will heal them.

MIRROR MIRROR OF THE WORD

There Mike stood… staring at the dusty Bible he had just pulled out from the abandoned book shelf… He

had no idea who owned the Bible but had an inkling of how it had gotten into the bookshelf…

He grew up to know a studious preacher dad and an assiduous mum who spent 12 hours at work & 3 hours in the kitchen every week day – and her weekends where spent in community services. He never had anyone show him the ropes about anything from age 14. 

“Everything you need to learn about life is in the Bible” his dad would drum into his ears… the same words that drove him away from church… from the bible and from everything that was attached to Jesus. It was a rebellion against the factors that took away his parents’ love. 

 He got a call that his parents had an accident earlier that day while driving to a village in Osun State for missions. He didn’t feel pity or sadness when he heard the news; the only emotion that crossed his mind was an inexplicable calm. On his 19th birthday he had finally gathered the balls to walk away from home and not look back… and his relationship with his parents had grown worse from that day. 

“How could Christian parents be this mean?” Mike would tell anyone who cared to listen. 

He had arrived his parents abode late in the evening to avoid anyone in the estate seeing him. The ‘50s mini-duplex was deserted. 

As Mike considered the Bible, he observed that the edges were glowing. A phenomenon he hadn’t heard of before. He reached out and opened it carefully, ready to take to his heels if anything popped out of it. As the cover opened a bright light pierced through the semi darkness and Mike had to shield his eyes from the penetrating light. 

He stayed that way for about twenty seconds until he felt his eyes had adjusted to the brightness. He finally opened them and saw a glowing mirror suspended mid-air over the spot where the Bible had lain. He saw what looked like a human form in the mirror… but the image was shrivelled and looked infected with all sorts of skin irritations… it looked dead 

On close observation he realized that image had the same features he had… the mole on his nose was there and the eye-colour was the same. In fright he quickly observed his arm to see if he had any infections on it… his research showed different… so why did he look like a corpse on the mirror in front of him? 

He stepped closer to the mirror and observed faint letterings in the foreground… he mouthed the words “…as we continue to behold as in a mirror the glory of God, we are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in an ever increasing splendour…” 

As he mouthed these words… he saw part of the shrivelled face in the mirror peel off. And the skin under that part looked like a visual effects from a Sci-fi flick – it glowed. In confusion Mike mouthed the words again… yet again another portion of the shrivelled face peeled off revealing more glory on the image… and he could see the shrivelled skin float away into oblivion 

So Mike kept repeating the verse until the entire image was alive with glory… then the mirror collapsed like a folding pamphlet… once again it was the old dusty Bible… but Mike couldn’t stop mouthing the words, because he felt lighter every time he said them and he felt all the hate he felt for his parents fade away into oblivion…

ORIENTATION OF A KING VII

Grunts… perspiration… heaves… snorts… clangs of weapons… the Israeli camp was rank with

consternation. Ever since that 17 year old kid had walked down the hillside of Ella, every Israeli soldier had soaked their undercoat in anticipation of the slavery that awaited the entire nation of Israel. Why had King Saul allowed this runt represent them?

“Today the world will know that there is a God in Israel” The ruddy 17 year old screamed over the substantial tension “… because I will cut off your head and feed it to the birds of the air” 

The 11 ft. tall uncircumcised Philistine was enraged when he heard this. He had threatened Israel for over two weeks and no one had dared to whisper a word until this runt of a creature showed his face. His rage was hinged on Saul’s insolence… sending a kid to his early death… what was the strategy? 

Was there even a strategy? Kunle and Eti Smith were also in the trenches by the hillside, dressed in full armour, arms in dirt and ready to charge at the sign of any hope that victory was sure. Two of them were probably the only ones in the trenches that believed Goliath would fall that day… because they’d heard the story over and over… they knew it even in their dreams. 

Kunle Captained a battalion and Eti was his armour bearer. The boy had learnt to wield a sword at a very early age and could sneak into enemy territory without attracting attention because he was just a kid. 

“How did David know he was going to cut off Goliath’s head dad?” Eti asked his father “he didn’t have any sword on him” 

“He was putting God on the spot” Kunle replied 

Goliath’s rage could not be contained anymore, so he pushed his armour bearer aside and charged forward. The whole valley shook as his huge feet trampled what was left of the grasses. Though Eti knew the story by heart, he couldn’t help but marvel at the boldness with which David ran forward to meet Goliath. 

“Why did David run forward?” he asked his father

“That’s what faith does son” Kunle responded “True faith nudges you to act in accordance with what you believe” 

In an instant David had swung his catapult and Goliath was falling forward… and the rest would have been history but Eti couldn’t help asking 

“Following the law of Physics dad, Goliath should have fallen backwards because the force came from the front” 

“You mistake the stone for the force son” Kunle smiled knowingly “the force that struck Goliath was behind him… when David made that challenge… God was stirred by the faith of that Kid and sent his angels to slay that braggart from behind” 

Kunle turned to his battalion and screamed “What are you waiting for? We’ve been served Philistine skunk for dinner” 

Then he charged forward with Eti in front…

YOU'VE GOT ME

Coach Straus droned on but Simone had zoned out… his mind was burnt… no, charred was the word.

Thirteen games in a row and he had not netted any goal yet (not even in training)… since the 2013 season started. What good was a striker who didn’t convert chances? He was the most expensive player on the planet right now and the previous season had seen him win UEFA footballer of the year … with 57 goals that season

His thoughts were tied up in knots at too many points… his nights were wrapped up in too many layers that by the time he finished unravelling them, his alarm would clang 05:00… meals were poison and he was fast losing weight. 

He had complained to the Team Psychologist… visited different psychotherapist after the first five games of the season without goals and they all said the same thing… he was in top shape… but he knew different. 

It sounded distant, but he could recognize the coach’s voice… he jerked in surprise as a team mate poked him

“Simone…Simone?” Coach Strauss was saying “are you okay?” 

“Sorry coach… I don’t think I can play the second half?” Simone asked with confusion inscribed on his face 

“Where have you been the whole time?” Coach Strauss asked in dismay “I already said you were off the team till you got your groove back” 

This was the height… Simone knew his team depended solely on him… and if Coach Strauss had decided to bench him till he started scoring in trainings… then he too had given up on Simone. He watched the team roll out for second-half but didn’t move an inch… nobody cared enough to bother him. 

When the last man had gone out he went to his locker and started clearing out his stuff… he needed a break and he didn’t care what his contract said, he was going to hide away for the next two weeks. Then he found an old diary his mum had bought him when he first moved to Spain… the year he signed his contract with Madrid… 

The first page stopped him cold… it was a prayer… it read “Dear God, thank you for the opportunity to play in the world’s biggest club… if you will crown me with the title of UEFA’s best in this club… I will publicly declare your son Jesus as the saviour of the world… if I don’t, take my groove away” 

Realization washed over him like fish in hot oil… he had reneged on his word… he was responsible for the goal drought he was facing… 

Straightaway he tossed everything back into the locker… slammed it shut… swiftly changed into a clean jersey… and rushed out… with a smile 

He knew what had to be done… suddenly; life wasn’t so terrible anymore…

JESUS STARE

The undulating terrain held nothing but scare for Jones. It was rugged and narrow… the race course was

helmed in by fierce menacing barbs, thorns and gigantic briers. Another rider throttled past him on a dirt bike – the rider wasn’t looking at the terrain, but at something in front of him which Jones couldn’t make out.

There was a distant glare that could barely pass for a bush lamp. Jones knew that was the finish line but he wasn’t sure if the rider was actually staring at the glare… it was so tiny. 

This was the third rider that he had seen do that while riding past him. What were they staring at? Jones had tripped into thorny boundaries about three times. By the third time, his riding gear was riddled with innumerable cuts and his helmet was gone. He had managed to pull himself up just before sliding into the gaping darkness beyond the barbs, thorns and briers. 

“How could anyone call this The Beautiful Race?” Jones grumbled as he pulled out a prick from his left arm.

 Another rider approached and Jones observed again that he was staring into oblivion but his riding was steady. He decided he was going find out what these guys were staring at. As the rider’s bike hopped over the crest, Jones screamed 

“What are you staring at?”

 “The Manual” The rider’s scream sounded muffled from under the helmet… and Jones noticed that the rider almost tripped when he took his eyes off whatever he was staring at… but he regained balance as soon as he resumed staring. 

Jones then remembered the manual all riders were asked to buy at the beginning of the race. He had bought one but didn’t bother opening it because he didn’t need any quack telling him about dirt bike racing. Unknown to him, this was no ordinary racing… this was “The Beautiful Race”

 Jones ransacked his pocket and found the tiny manual. He opened it. Even though the light was fast fading, he could make out the words like it was bright day light. The first thing he saw was “NEVER LOOK AT THE TERRAIN”… what sort of stupid manual was this? How were you to race on a terrain without looking at it? How was one meant to negotiate the crest and troughs? 

But he continued “…KEEP YOUR EYES LOCKED ON THE LIGHT”… then it hit Jones like a cyclone… Hebrews 12:2 – Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, the leader and source of our faith and also its finisher. 

Jones realized that the other riders where steady because the never took their eyes off the LIGHT. JESUS is that Light. Without constantly staring him, we all fall into the thorns lining the race course!

ORIENTATION OF A KING VI

“Why won’t you even look at me” Cleopatra rubbed Joseph’s chin gently and he shrunk back. 

“The mere thought of your suggestions are underserving of my God and master” Joseph drew close to the only exit from this gaping abyss of lust. “What is it about me?”

 “Why don’t you ask yourself that question?” Cleopatra drew near him again 

“This is wrong against God” Joseph whispered with tears in his eyes… he knew this was absolutely wrong and was also aware of the fact that his refusal would get him sacked. Madame Cleopatra had threatened over and over, used every tactic in the book but he had not given in.

It had started with subtle gifts and niceties… then it advanced to body rubs… subsequently aggravating to open requests. Joseph was caught in between his integrity to God, his loyalty to Potiphar (his master) and the grim claws of this evil seductress. He knew without a doubt that the surest bet was God, so his tears were not out of weakness but out of the realization that God wasn’t done training him for where he was going to. 

Joseph’s tears were a show of anger that he still had flaws that needed testing. He had contemplated telling his master several times but would Potiphar believe a common Israeli slave over his wife of fifteen years? 

Kunle Smith knew what would follow immediately and turned to Eti. “Watch carefully, son… someday this might be you” he whispered. Kunle had brought his son through Time Warp to witness this classic temptation theatre. The media was rank with tons of sensual material and Kunle needed his boy ready to overcome. 

They stood under the covers of the heavy Egyptian blinds yet their vision wasn’t hindered by the covers. Two time-frames had been merged… but only the parties from the present year could traverse both time-frames. 

Cleopatra grabbed Joseph by the waist in a lock that was definitely powered by hell. She pulled him like a possessed tigress and succeeded in getting him to the bed despite Joseph’s manly strength…

Eti shut his eyes in disgust and youthful innocence but Kunle tapped the boy on the shoulders “the best part is here son” urging Eti to open his eyes. 

At that instant, Joseph elbowed Cleopatra in the gut. She yelped like a wounded dog and released her grip temporarily. As Joseph took off towards the door, Cleopatra regained strength and reached for his coat… and the coat felt this was the appropriate time to be rent… on the right shoulder 

SO Joseph fled the sin scene leaving behind the coat of proof… that he was either guilty or innocent. 

“Dad” Eti whispered to his dad “Why was Cleopatra so particular about Joseph” 

“The destiny of the world lay in the integrity of Joseph’s heart” Kunle replied “and God allowed him to be taken through series of temptations to be sure that particular character was sealed in his heart”

“Did Joseph know this?”

 “Sure… remember his dreams?” Kunle replied “The devil’s greatest battle with you will come when he knows you’ve discovered your world changing purpose in Christ”

ACTIVATION TIME

The golden sword swayed back and forth… its tip stuck in the rock… on the summit of Mt. Morr… No

one could retrieve it except the Chosen One… the winds bore whispers that the hordes were gathering … the dark winds would soon be on the Valleys of Morr… This was the last of the Morran Empire to be taken by the dark hordes…

For centuries the dark hordes had raided the first six Empires of Morr and pillaged it. Many Morrans had been taken captive and were now slaves for the hordes… building fortresses and strengthening the awe of the hordes. 

The Hordes had laid siege against Morr for over a decade and there was no telling what would become of earth once the Hordes took over Morr… maybe a cataclysm… maybe Armageddon… maybe the skies would turn red and the sun would bleed… No one knew for certain… but there was a prophecy that a messiah would be born… and he would defeat the hordes 

The prophecy was supposed to be fulfilled exactly 29 years, 11 months and 28 days ago… but there was no sign that a special baby had been born neither was there any gossip about a hero in distant lands. Earth hath lost hope and the valiant men of Morr had gathered at the foot of the Mountain ready for battle… they had resigned their fate to fight to their death… with or without a Messiah 

Kimka, the crown Prince of Morr, had peaked Mt. Morr several times in his quest to find the Messiah… at some point he felt he was the messiah. On several occasions he had attempted to retrieve the sword but failed every time. Legend had it that once the Messiah touched the sword’s hilt, the wings of the golden eagle on the sword’s handle would envelope his hand like gloves… it would remain that way until the last of the hordes was slain… 

Kimka saw the approaching dark clouds and his rage soared… He attempted to retrieve the sword again but ended up screaming in frustration… 

“Why are you screaming?” a familiar voice asked calmly… Kimka wheeled around, his sword out of its scabbard in a flash… eyes raging… blood racing… no one ventured up this mountain… at least not Morrans… Morrans revered it because of the golden sword that was stuck on the summit… 

Kimka was surprised to see the wood-worker’s son… 

“How did you get up here?” Kimka puzzled… looking round to see if there were others… The wood-worker’s son was not a warrior and as far as everyone knew he was a wood-worker too… he didn’t look like the type to go mountain climbing… especially not Mt. Morr… His name was Yeshua, right? Yeah it was… 

“The same way you did?” Yeshua responded as he walked towards the rock with the golden sword.

“What are you doing up here?” Kimka stood in Yehsua’s way

“I’ve come to take what is mine… you?” Yeshua sidestepped Kimka 

“And what is yours?” Kimka followed Yeshua 

Yeshua hopped on the rock and held the hilt of the sword… suddenly, the wings of the eagle, wrapped themselves around his hand and he pulled the sword out of the rock with ease… immediately the sword slid out, the skies opened and a colossal band of light struck Yeshua from above… 

Right before Kimka, Yehsua’s appearance was transmuted from drab to glorious… the wood-worker’s robe gave way to golden armour and his appearance was like that of a god… unknown to Kimka the messiah was God… 

Kimka’s feet couldn’t carry him anymore… all this time… he had walked past the messiah, looked down on him, scorned him and even bullied him once in a while without realizing who he was… no one had respect for the wood-worker’s son… Kimka fell on his knees in awe… muttering - “all this time…all this time” 

“There is a time for everything” Yeshua replied “a time to be born… a time to die… a time to prepare for a battle… and a time to fight the battle”

Kimka raised his face and stared at the glorious being standing in front of him… 

“No matter what your mission on earth is… if you are not ready… you will not be activated… I’ve spent the last 30 years getting ready for this day” Yeshua continued “Come… It’s time”

ORIENTATION OF A KING V

“Dad” Eti whispered again, but the wheezing sound in Kunle Smith’s ear wouldn’t let the sound register. It

was the fierce desert wind. A storm was nigh. Even though Kunle couldn’t see the storm, the tell-tale signs were enough to write a sonnet about its monstrosity.

 “This is going to be bad” Kunle screamed over the wheezing wind as he looked down to see Eti’s lips moving. He picked up his boy, wrapped a shawl over his face and went against the wind, picking his steps gingerly in order to avoid sinking. He was hoping to find a boulder that could shield them from the winds but even he knew that hope at this point was a couch on an ocean. 

After trudging for about ten minutes, Kunle knelt down at the crest of the dune he had climbed, set Eti down, and removed the shawl from his face.

Kunle had taught Eti that God was always on time to meet our needs… never early, never late and the boy had requested that they go to the desert without any supplies and test the proposition. Despite Kunle’s explanations that God’s assurance for provision was no reason to tempt him, the boy wouldn’t let up.

Kunle was skeptical about the whole thing until he had a vision and God assured Him… this was a lesson the boy needed to learn experientially. 

So three days ago, after flying all the way to Maiduguri from Ikeja, they boarded a taxi from the airport to the Nigerian-Chad border – driving for over 8 hours to the Monguno end.The bearded taxi driver couldn’t understand why a man and his son would get down at the middle of nowhere and walk off into the midday heat of a sweltering desert. Was this a modern version of the Abraham-Isaac fairy-tale?

In the last three days they had wandered from the outskirts of the desert (featuring occasional trees & boulders) to bare strips of sand (blistering in the day and frosty at night). There had been no oases, no fruit or vegetable tree in sight and no animal even. They had not eaten or drunk anything in over 48 hours – they had their last on the taxi. Eti had ceased talking yesterday and Kunle had considered returning. 

Yet, when he asked Eti if it was time to return, the boy shook his head in the negative 

This was a huge mistake… Kunle thought to himself… was he sure God had really spoken to him? Why did he even agree to this sort of madness? He considered how far they had come without experiencing any life form other than sand. This was one lesson too aggravated… he decided then that this would be the last practical lesson Eti would be given.

He took out his satellite phone and Eti’s weak eyes bulged.

“What are you doing dad?” Kunle made out the whispered words as he observed the caked lips of his only son. 

“Saving your life son” Kunle responded. As he dialled the private helicopter service he had chattered for a week (anticipating current situations), Eti tugged weakly at his sleeve and he looked down at the boy. 

“Son, I’m sorry, but we shouldn’t tempt God” Kunle rubbed his son’s head as Eti pointed at something behind his father.

Kunle turned to see what it was… a hamlet… how? That wasn’t there moments ago… hold on, that’s where the dusty wind had blown from… Kunle’s shock and disappointment knew no bounds… His son’s faith beat his!

“God is always on time daddy” Eti whispered again, his face too strained for a smile…

***

This is for dreamers like Abraham... I have no idea how far out you have gone… but if God has sent you forth to a land that you do not know… and circumstances are telling you it’s time to pack up and go back home… Please don’t … God is always on time… He’s not asleep!

ASSASSIN'S CREED

The timing was perfect… Whisker stood perfectly still as he observed The Job. His black spandex garbs

embraced the darkness that the crowded wardrobe offered. He was in the suits section and knew he wouldn’t have any problems executing this… yet, there was this edgy air in the atmosphere.

The Job approached the wardrobe to hang his suit and Whisker retrieved his jagged Bowie knife from the scabbard… the order had read “GUTTURAL AND BLOODY… and bring evidence”… Whisker intended to do just that even though he preferred not having contact with jobs… The Agency paid well, so sniping would have to wait for the next job… 

The Job pulled out a hanger… Whisker eased forward… his grip on the Bowie taut

“Hi” The Job said, throwing Whisker off balance “How long have you been here?”

Whisker wasn’t sure if The Job was talking to him or communicating with someone else… but there was no one else in the room, and The Job wasn’t wearing any communicating device…

 “Whisker, right? That’s what The Agency calls you” The Job said as he hung the blazer and walked towards his dressing mirror… leaving Whisker in a mind mud.

 In all his years of executing jobs, Whisker had never seen or heard about anyone act so calmly in the face of death… and Whisker had been an executioner for approximately 22 years… He started out as a government executioner… and as the case always is, time came for him to be silenced but he dropped out of the radar completely. 

Four years later he resurfaced as a freelance assassin listed on The Agency’s yellow pages… most ruthless and particularly keen on jobs that had corrupt government officials as targets. When he received this assignment he had been told that The Job was a preacher with a 9, 000-seater auditorium. The preacher’s messages were thwarting the passage of an “evil” bill in the senate and the committee needed him out of the way.

“I heard the assassin’s creed allowed for a retirement plan… what’s yours?” The Job (Preacher) continued as he pulled off his wrist watch and dumped it on the mirror desk. The Preacher sank on the bed and beckoned Whisker to come out. Whisker had no idea what pulled him out but he found himself stepping out of the wardrobe into the poorly lit room – the only source of illumination was the bedside lamp.

“The Committee sent you, right?” The Preacher patted his bed and Whisker sat down… Whisker could not fathom where the tears came from, but they flowed freely… he struggled to maintain his composure but bawled instead… his heart gave him away… somehow he knew there was a force that had overwhelmed him, yet knew not what force it was…

He nodded in response to The Preacher’s question 

“Too bad” The Preacher shook his head in pity “they picked the wrong preacher… son, it’s time for you to come home… Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart… the emotions you are experiencing are your sins struggling to gain elbow room” 

Finally, Whisker stuttered amidst sobs “what do I do?”

“Repeat after me” The Preacher replied “Dear Father…” 

***

It doesn’t matter what you have done or where you have been, Jesus has been to the worst place ever for you… and His arms are wide open to welcome you home… Come home, wherever you are!

ORIENTATION OF A KING IV

Finally… they arrived on the crest of the hill. The skull-shaped hill teemed with inveterate sinners

raining obscenities at four men; the innocent man wrongly accused… the troubled father asked to help the innocent man… and two hardened thieves – one repentant, the other repugnant.

 Kunle Smith knew the scene was about to get more gory and hugged Eti tight. Down at the barracks they had witnessed the height of man’s despicable nature. Eti’s cheeks were still wet… his body still shook from the fright… and he could feel the boy’s soul shiver through his skin. If this were a movie Eti would have had to wait five more years before witnessing this ordained gore…

 The innocent man Jesus had been torn by the licking tongues of the barbed whip… bits of his skin hung about his exposed bones and the crown of thorns comfortably dug into his scalp like fitting gloves. The swelling on his left eye and the torn lip created a caricature of the menacing Jesus Eti had heard about. No movie had this much horror

 They couldn’t see far ahead of them because the crowd was hard pressed about the Roman soldiers and the “criminals”. Kunle Smith heard a voice that he couldn’t recognize but reminded him of everything beautiful… “Let them through” it said

 Of its own accord the crowd parted and an aisle ran down to the centre of the hill where the three condemned men stood… actually, one was kneeling… the innocent man Jesus. Kunle walked his boy down the aisle and felt trepidation run through Eti’s hand. Kunle himself couldn’t shake off the plethora of emotions that he felt now… but this was a lesson that Eti needed NOW! 

 Unknown to him a lone tear was meandering down his left cheek. 

By the time they arrived at the end of the aisle, the innocent man Jesus had been laid on the cross that he had belaboured up the steep hill. His left ribcage was exposed with jagged edges. The blood on the cartilage covering the ribcage glistened in the midmorning sun… light found blood… innocent blood trickling from the weight of darkness… Spirit cleansing blood! 

 Jesus’ left arm was stretched, while the right arm was held down over the hole on that end of the cross… the sacrificial lamb brought to the party… Kunle could hear his son whimper. This was no sight for a thirteen year old… but the devil doesn’t consider age when he floods the internet with mental traps… Eti had to witness this… 

Eti saw the grotesque Roman soldier place a thick nail over Jesus’ open palm. As the hammer came down, Eti dug his face into his father’s side and screamed. The scream was muffled but loud enough to attract angry stares from the possessed onlookers near them. Kunle apologised with his gestures without muttering a word because his throat was choked with emotions. 

He had promised himself not to cry but when he heard metal meet metal… metal crush bone… bones pierce skin and the innocent man Jesus scream raggedly… his throat charred from thirst… Kunle let out bawls and dropped to his knees… he didn’t care what the onlookers thought. He hugged his son tightly and they bawled together. How could this be? How could another man bear such torture and pain for another man’s wrong? 

Then he remembered… this was no ordinary man at all… this was God in flesh… only God could love like this. While on his knees, he heard the saviour scream over and over… and the hammer kiss irreverently… and the crowd cheer to every clang… and his son let it all out on his shoulders… and his heart rent in many places…

Then Kunle remembered the lesson… he pulled himself away from his son… composed himself a bit and looked Eti in the eyes… but the boy wouldn’t look at him

“Eti” Kunle said amidst sobs “Remember this day whenever you feel the urge to sin… keep it safe in close memory… for Jesus Christ did all of these for you… that’s how much he loves you… and he would do it again without thinking twice… but once was enough for the world”

PURPLE HEART

I don’t remember dying… but I remember lying on the hospital bed… awaiting transition 

I wasn’t that old… maybe a hundred and a few toppings… but I had lived a great life… in the jungles of Somalia… the deserts of Sudan… the roughies of Congo… and the heat of Kenya. The beautiful thing is most of my peers would not even remember that I once existed… not because I had not thought about leaving behind empires and legacies… but because I knew all earthly empires and legacies eventually fade away. 

I had forsaken all my PhDs, my investments, and my wealth at the age of 52… when it occurred to me that I would always want more despite the apparent sufficiency… avarice was and is an inherent strand in the human DNA… the unregenerate… and I wasn’t going to leave on like that. 

So I had taken up my cross and not only sponsored missions but volunteered for every mission I sponsored... the complex newness that came over me was beyond the principles of quantum physics and philosophical dissertations… I was a new man, heaping my treasures in heavens… trading the currency of faith for the souls I reached out to… 

“Hey” I heard that all so familiar voice that you could never get used to “Welcome Home…” he continued and when I spun round my aged knees buckled (despite the new strength that surged through them)… 

I fell in awe, not quite sure if standing in the presence of “Greatness” was appropriate… I looked… but it felt like I could never exhaust the vista of his face… 

“My Lord” I uttered with a voice lost in emotions… 

He smiled “I am not He… I am Michael” he came over to me and helped me up… “Please rise… I am at your service” 

If Michael was this beautiful how entrancing would My Lord be…? Hitherto, everything was all white, but the moment he took my hands, the true nature of my whereabouts was revealed to me… now I grasp what Paul meant when he said “the man beheld things that he’s not allowed to say”… not because his voice failed him or he was banned from saying anything… the words to communicate them just didn’t exist. 

It wasn’t about the streets of gold… gold here is the least of awes… allow me the youthfulness of using the word “Dude”… Earth is a mangled work of art compared to this… just pacing this streets alone was enough to pleasure me for an eternity… my whole body wept in bliss as we were transported through space without moving our limbs… 

Then we arrived the throne room… words do also fail grey hairs… sensations too wild to be imagined by the best of authors wracked my body when I beheld My Lord sitting at the right hand of My Lord… both were wrapped in Light… strong enough to shield Jehovah from my view but subtle enough to let me experience Him…

Oh! What glory treaded my cells… my body burned with so many tender emotions that I fell flat and moaned in awe… “glory… glory… glory…glory”

Then I felt my Lord stand above and when I lifted my head… I saw… I saw… I saw those golden holes in his hands as he held a crown over me…

“In Sudan I saw you” He smiled as he said this and I knew life “In Somalia you fed me… In Kenya, you visited me in prison, in Congo you clothed me… and in Nigeria you gave it all up… I was there son… I was there” 

I opened my mouth to say something… anything… but only tears bubbled out

“Well-done” he continued “here”… and he placed the crown on my head 

I don’t know how long it took for you to realize that earth is just a transitory phase… but I want to encourage you to keep faith… and set your eyes on the glory that awaits… It’s beautiful beyond your comprehension of beautiful 

And if you haven’t come to the knowledge of Christ yet, hop out of that path to eternal doom… don’t miss this awe for anything on earth…

I am… doesn’t really matter… but I am dropping this note from heaven… the awe here is inexplicable...

ORIENTATION OF A KING III

Kunle Smith stared at the map in his hand and considered his son’s face. Eti’s thought patterns were

vividly spelt on his face, just as Kunle had planned. The map was a prototype of the Lagos Island blueprint. Kunle knew the roads too well because he had grown up on these same streets. He could walk around these streets in blindfold and name every turn.

“Which path do you want to take?” Kunle asked his son without taking his eyes off Eti’s face 

“Dad” Eti observed the map as his teenage mind searched desperately for the shortest route to arrive the finish line.

Today was fun Saturday for the Smith’s and Kunle had come up with a fun way to yet again teach Eti an important lesson that would be essential in his walk with God. Earlier on in the week, Kunle had made copies of the map from an old Lagos State Diary. He then traced three lines for probable race routes from Start Line to Finish Line. The Start line was at Marina and the finish line was at TBS. 

The women in the house had gone shopping at Shop Rite.

“Route B” Eti finally spoke, trying hard to conceal his excitement at finding the route with short cuts. 

Kunle smiled, knowing he had his son right where he wanted him. “All right then… remember the emergency dial on the phone if you get stuck, but it should be easy” 

“Sure dad” Eti replied, taking one more look at the route with short cuts 

“Let the race begin”… Kunle strolled off as Eti tore away with youthful excitement. Eti got to the end of the first turning and observed that his dad was just strolling towards his own end of the street. Eti didn’t pause to ask himself why, he had a race to win… If he won, they were going for go-cart racing the next day but if his dad won, He would have to summarize the book of Psalms. 

Eti’s first challenge was the human traffic along Mandilas… unknown to him; human traffic was heavier here because of wholesale distribution done by marketers in the numerous complexes that lined the street. No sooner had he negotiated the street did he encounter more human traffic. 

All the short cuts on the route that he had chosen were crowded by buyers and sellers trying to close sales because sunset was fast approaching. His frustration bore his young heart weary but the thoughts of summarizing the book of Psalms urged him on. At every point Eti stopped to look at the map, he felt like he was losing time so he memorized the route and tucked the map into his pocket. 

Two hours later he arrived under the horses outside TBS and found his dad sipping a can of coke. 

“Dad, how did you get here before me?” Eti asked with short gasps 

“Catch your breath” Kunle smiled at his son and tossed a can of dew at him.

Eti caught it but wouldn’t open it. He kept staring at his dad, trying to catch his breath “Dad, did you cheat?”

“That wasn’t and will never be an option” Kunle replied… still smiling “Son, you chose the route because it had short cuts right?” “Sure” Eti paused “You knew?”

 “I traced the routes didn’t I?” Kunle smirked as he drew his son near “In your haste to arrive first, you picked that route not realizing that there would be other factors like human traffic…” Eti raised his brows in surprise

“Son, short cuts are the most traveled routes in life but they seldom guaranty early arrival…” Kunle continued “If you want to arrive exactly where and when God wants you to arrive in life, you have to follow His way, even if it seems like it’s a long route”

“Are you saying you knew I would lose the race?” Eti puzzled 

“I made you lose the race son” Kunle hugged his son “I wanted you to learn that the race is not to the swift or the strongest… but to whoever follows God’s proposed way… there are no short cuts with God” 

“Not fair dad” Eti sulked 

“Come on” Kunle tickled “summarizing the book of Psalms will be fun… it would be your introductory classes on poetry” 

Image courtesy of Fuse MQ Enterprise

SUBLIME

After the fifth time Stacie promised herself she wouldn't call Jim again, she dialled his

number and her heart skipped a trifle when his image appeared on the screen. She knew she had no business calling him after he had blatantly told her she was worthless…

 What happened to all the sweet words, the attention, the petting, and the "I am crazy about you"? 18 months into the relationship and she had never even kissed him, until that movie night when the watched a romantic flick in a candle lit room. It was all so beautiful, just like in the movies…

 "Hello" Jim answered irritably on the other side "Stacie, what is it?" "Baby" Stacie returned from her reverie "baby, how are you doing?"

 "Listen Stacie" Jim growled "I'm at work, if you have nothing important to do, I do…"

 "Baby what happened to us?" Stacie resumed her sobbing routine, but the line went dead. She tossed the soiled tissue on the pile that was fast rising to the height of the couch. She wasn't naïve, matter of fact this was her third relationship and every one of them had ended after she gave up the "cookie". 

She had thought what she had with Jim was different because he never made any demands, never threatened and didn't even act like he was interested in "Cookies" before marriage. Truth be told, of all the men that she had dated, Jim was the sweetest… well, turns out the sweetest sometimes have fangs.

 After their first time, Jim started acting cold and she felt she had done something wrong. So, she tried to get his warmth and sweetness back by giving up more cookies, but nothing changed. It was raining ice by the fourth time… Jim stopped calling, stopped texting and didn't even bother replying her messages… 

 What had she done wrong? She was a good Christian girl, beautiful (sexy even), had great character, worked hard and earned good… maybe she got too emotional… but was that it? Isn't a woman allowed to be emotional? She pondered on these until exhaustion drove her into the warmth of sleep. 

 Later that day, she came across a psychology journal, it featured results of a research on subliminal messages that are inculcated in advertisements, to get consumers hooked on products. 

Then it hit her, even though Jim had never mentioned sex or implied it, the movies they saw at the cinemas, the songs he made her listen to, the novels he bought her, and the sort of underwear he bought her all suggested sex implicitly.

 "Wow…" Was all she could say… Jim worked as an advertising executive in one of the top ad agencies in Lagos. The whole time, he was all about the cookies even though his words were all about their future… 

Then the popular proverbs 4:23 verse hit her "guard you heart with all vigilance and above all you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life" "How many things do we know, yet don't put to practice?" She asked out loud… 

While Jim featured a "Christian" façade, he was subliminally suggesting "Cookie take-outs"… She should have known better than receive media content and gifts that were not edifying from Jim… she should have paid greater attention to Paul's warning in Romans 12:2 that we ought not to conform to the standards but rather to renew our thoughts with God's word. 

 She exhaled in realization of the fact that she had been duped… through subliminal suggestions and she got down on her knees… It was time to hit the refresh button… She had messed up, but she wasn't going to stay messed up… 

She knew Christ would be waiting with open arms… and she resolved there and then that she was going to filter everything that she read, listened to, and watched…

STILL

Thwack… the harness that held the sail down to the gunwale gave way and the thrashing sail flopped

about menacingly. The storm had come upon MV Calvary without notice and the gurgling tempest of the pacific spoke thunders. The waves were tales of fiction featured in flicks only – when it troughed, the darkened clouds laughed at the keel of the fishing trawler.

MC Calvary crewmen scurried about cutting harnesses, wrapping sails around the gaff, channeling the flood off the deck. Capt. Maxi watched the whole thing without emotions from the prow, his knuckles white from gripping the gunwale. This wasn’t how he’d envisaged the end of his great fishing career on earth. “North-East’s Finest Sailor lost at sea” the headlines would read. 

He thought about all the stories he had heard about sailors dying at sea and their final words. He knew this night wasn’t going to last long because the storm had just begun and he knew what the word “cyclone” meant… this storm had the tell-tale signs of that monster written all over it. 

The waves crested again and passed immediately… their descent reminded Capt. Maxi of the crests on the highways to his village… He missed the hollow feeling that made one’s heartbeat increase whenever a crest was passed on the highway… but this wasn’t a highway… this was an ocean without borders… without solace… a moaning ocean thirsting for souls… calling… beckoning… 

As they descended, Capt. Maxi looked round to see his dejected men hold on tightly to anything that would reduce the impact whenever MV Calvary hit water again… they all looked scared and knew what he knew… this night was not going to last long… no Captain deserved this looks from men who looked up to him

He gazed down at his feet and saw the words he had engraved on the prow when he bought the trawler – PEACE BE STILL… the words of His master Jesus… he was a Christian but this was beyond his faith… Still he muttered the words… not in hope that the storm would pass but that their deaths would be in peace…

“Peace be still” he repeated silently, his eyes closed… his heart at peace… and his spirit ready to be poured out “Peace be still”… 

Before they bottomed out, another crest caught them in mid-air and took them up… at the peak of the crest, Capt. Maxi heard a screeching sound and looked round at his men. They all had their eyes shut… 

“Peace be still” he muttered again… ready for anything 

Then the trawler stopped moving… MV Calvary was perfectly still… still in the raging storm… not swaying… not canting… not tilting… but perfectly still in the belly of the cyclone. Everyone opened their eyes and noticed that the storm was still raging about them, several feet below them. Yet, their ship was steady. 

Capt. Maxi peeked beyond the gunwale and observed that they had crested on a rock. The rock had a groove that the trawler’s keel fitted perfectly into. Reverent awe washed over him… there was no record of such a rock in the pacific… no scientific expedition had evidence of this and in all his 37-years of sailing Capt. Maxi had never heard of this rock…

This was no ordinary rock… This was the Rock of Ages… this was Christ himself… Capt. Maxi knelt and his entire crew followed suit…