Category: Christian

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Why Am I A Christian ?

I love comics, manga, anime, video games and basically anything that has to do with animation and superheroes (This includes Star Wars)

As a man living in Ghana one would think this would have been left behind in high school or university. Rather I patronize these things with a passion and love that my sons are learning about my super hero characters and Dragon Ball Z.

I am proud of that.

I am not phased when anyone sees my passion as childish. I love the memorabilia and if I can get any, I do.

This is similar to my passion as a Christian. I am a proud Christian and not ashamed of it one bit. Unlike my comics and video games. Christianity requires me to share the good news about Christ and His love for us.

The world we live in however is filled with a lot of people twisting the words in the bible to make Christianity seem as a space where once you get in suffering ceases.

This is not entirely true.

“However, if you suffer because you are a Christian, don’t be ashamed of it, but thank God that you bear Christ’s name.”

1 Peter 4:16 GNT

First off I want to point out that suffering is a constant in our lives as humans. Everybody goes through some kind of suffering. For some it’s physical and for others it’s emotional. The bottom line is that we all go through it.

In becoming a Christian we start the process of not feeling guilty. That’s a suffering I personally went through before I became a Christian. Even after I became born again, this suffering did not immediately go as I continued to live a life of sin.

“For “ WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD [in prayer] WILL BE SAVED.””

Romans 10:13 AMP

It was until I truly let Jesus in that the suffering went away. I had to realize the hard way that I could not solve my problems and had to let my Maker do it for me.

“because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Romans 10:9 AMP

The simple gesture of letting someone into your personal space is difficult. Difficult because you have to accept that you are weak, not capable, inefficient and most importantly need help. As a male, that is tough.

Until you come to that realization you won’t begin to benefit truly from a relationship with Christ because that relationship will be fake (on your part).

All that is a suffering you must go through. Once that is over it doesn’t mean that you are suddenly out of the woods. There is usually a sense that you will have everything going for you MATERIALLY. I stress on the material because usually that’s what people think the relationship is all about. I need to be rich so God is going to give me money now. I need a man/woman so God is going to get me that now.

Sorry to burst your bubble again but that isn’t what Christianity is all about.

What you need to understand about being a true Christian is that you have to prepare your self to accept both good and bad news and believe they are working for the good of you and everyone. Once you accept this, you’ll begin to appreciate and trust the role of God in your life.

“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”

Romans 8:28 AMP

Pain is a constant in life. So is suffering. The only difference here is this; you can suffer in gain or you can suffer in vain either way there is going to be pain.

Just because you became a Christian doesn’t mean life or success is now on autopilot. You have to come to the party and play your part. God will do his bit but you have to do yours as well. If you don’t, well He is not going to be able to heal or transform you into what you are supposed to be.

In the book of 2 Kings there is a story about a soldier named Naaman who had leprousy and was looking to be healed. He was asked by the Prophet Elisha to bathe in the Jordan seven times. Naaman found the instructions insulting and almost ignored until his servant encouraged him to do as Elisha has instructed. By following the instructions given he was healed.

This is similar to the saying:

“ You can take a horse to the river but you can’t force it to drink”

The same goes for Christians. If we listen and follow the word in the Bible and what our Lord ministers to us personally we will see the growth in our lives.

If you looking at achieving something without putting in work and thinking because you are Christian and go to church and pray, that things are going to work out, you’ve got the wrong idea of God’s purpose.

“Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business]. Now such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work quietly and earn their own food and other necessities [supporting themselves instead of depending on the hospitality of others]. And as for [the rest of] you, believers, do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good [but continue doing what is right without weakening].”

2 Thessalonians 3:11-13 AMP

“If anyone fails to provide for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he has denied the faith [by disregarding its precepts] and is worse than an unbeliever [who fulfills his obligation in these matters].”

1 Timothy 5:8 AMP

This is why some people who don’t believe in God but work hard reap the benefits of their work. God is not going to deny them the fruits of their labor because they don’t subscribe to Christianity. Remember, we are all God’s children and He is working hard for us all to come to Him.

So why be a Christian?

It’s the best way of living life and having peace of mind. Think of Christianity as having a friend who is going to help you make better decisions. One that will guide you into becoming the best version of yourself. One that will help you find your true self and live fulfilled. A friend who forgives you if you make mistakes and helps you back on your feet.

Let’s face it. There is only so much that each of us individually can do. It’s only God that can achieve the impossible. As a Christian it gives me a sense of peace because I know and trust that He is in control and all that is happening is happening for a reason.

I just have to do my part and listen to Him as He directs me towards happiness and love. Sometimes that will mean me going through some storms or being uncomfortable but in the end it will be worth it. Sometimes I may do my own thing and fail. He will be there to pick me up. Discipline me if needed but all to put me on track and teach me a lesson.

It’s all about faith in Him and accepting that we know no better. This however can only be achieved if one is broken and comes to Him in sincerity to change, depend on Him and love.

If this message has touched you and you want to give your life to Christ, pray this simple prayer in honesty.

Father, I am a sinner before you looking for peace. My past and lifestyle are underserving of your mercy. I am at a place where I am not proud of myself and feel worthless.

Deep down though I know that’s not the plan you have for me.

So I come to you accepting my flaws and accepting that I need to change.

I recognize your authority and the life of you Son Jesus Christ who died for us.

I believe in His sacrifice and want Him to be my Lord and personal savior.

I know I am not perfect but seek perfection through Jesus. Let Him live in me as I accept Him and Let Him change my life and make me the person you destined me to be.

Amen!

Let me know if you need to talk about this and any other thing regarding being a Christian. I am always ready to help.

Keep it One Hondred!

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Are you Salt or Sugar?

“Be the salt of the earth”

Its funny how when one speaks of salt, sugar comes to mind. Maybe it’s because they share similar physical attributes such as their colour and the fact that both dissolve in water. Taste is where the two differ and thus the need for distinction between the two in the kitchen or table setting, to prevent disturbing facial expressions.

(A great April Fools prank though)

More disturbing recently, has been a popular statement by Jesus, “You are the salt of the earth“, found in Matthew 5:13:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its taste (purpose), how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and walked on by people [when the walkways are wet and slippery].”

‭‭MATTHEW‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

As a Christian I have always wondered why Jesus refers to believers as the salt of the earth and not sugar.

I mean, salt is good but if given a preference I would go with sugar. So why did Jesus say otherwise?

To be fair Jesus refers to believers as light, fishers of men and other terms in his sermons and discussions with his disciples.

I just find it interesting that water, salt and fish, all have a connection with salvation. (I don’t think it’s a coincidence either)

I however want us to realize that as Christians we sometimes tend to be sugar and not salt. We lean towards an assumption that the life of a Christian is easy going and stress free and no challenges; just smiles and laughter everyday.

How could it be?

Look at the problems in the world. Christians are challenged to take a stand, be merciful and forgiving, kind towards strangers, comfort the broken hearted and many more.

God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit provides peace, grace and strength to those who believe to do all these things with a smile but it’s not easy.

It’s kind of similar to raising children. It’s a blessing but has its moments that test you. Children getting sick, disciplining them, helping them with homework and teaching them life lessons cannot be compared to sharing an ice cream with them. It is challenging but parents love their job.

The same goes for believers. We have to be careful to not go the route of being sugar. Sugar makes things sweet but doesn’t have antiseptic properties. It’s like raising kids and not disciplining them.

In Matthew 5, Jesus didn’t use salt to describe us in connection to taste alone. If that were the case I am sure he would have made reference to sugar. (No one after all wants to be called a salty Christian, you feel me?)

I believe Jesus used salt because of the many uses of salt in our lives including that of adding flavor or taste to food.

It is also worth noting that there is salt in all food and that Jesus’s statement didn’t ask us to BECOME salt but rather REVEALED that we ARE salt.

Salt has antiseptic abilities and is also used to preserve food. Quite a versatile spice if you ask me.

So let’s ask ourselves, what does it mean to be salt?

With the little that has been shared, I believe we are being called to preserve morality and keep the peace. As salt we also help clean up situations by allowing God to take out the trouble and bring in the calm. This is done by sharing the good news and living with Christ. The two are inseparable.

Sharing the good news means that you believe in the ways of God. It means one having interaction with Him through prayer and reading of the bible to understand Him better.

It means distinguishing right and wrong and being able to identify sin. It does not mean judging. It means living a life that others wish to emulate. People should be around you and know that you stand for Good, Peace and Truth.

In case my discussion of salt has not been helpful or one requires clarity on the subject, here is a link that helped me answer why God calls us salt and not sugar. I hope it helps you see the truth.

https://www.wisdomonline.org/devotionals/devotion_detail.html?id=811

Keep it One Hondred!

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A Valuable Cracked TV Lesson

“There is a crack on the TV”

This is how my Monday morning begun. Have the little TV people who live inside our TV gotten tired of entertaining us and want to break free?

Maybe

“There is sound but no picture”

Ok so the little TV people are still working but maybe there is “dumsor”*, load shedding or lights out in TV land.

“I think Bobo cracked the TV”

Bobo is the nickname I gave my first son. One thing I can say about having kids is that everyone dreads them destroying a TV.

I sometimes wonder whether our parents ever had that concern. It’s like they come down with a TV and smartphone screen mess up configuration, operation “crack the screen”.

I didn’t want to believe this news so I asked for my wife to let me on the details of what actually happened.

According to her she was in the kitchen when my son came through screaming “TV” repeatedly. She came into the living room to inquire, only to hear sound and no picture from the TV. She then went closer to see a crack on the screen which lead to the wail, “OH BOBO!”

Not to put my wife on the spot but judgement had already been passed down on the boy. I also concluded after assessing the screen that he was guilty.

His track record didn’t help either. He had already messed up one TV and there was his telephone set that he liked to bang on the wall by the TV.

This son of mine is in need of lawyer and his phone call.

Needless to say I was pissed. I was only glad that over the weekend wifey and I watched Game of Thrones Season 8 finally on the big screen. Watching via laptop wouldn’t have been epic.

I had not budgeted to buy a TV this month so I was thinking that maybe the screen could be fixed. It was when I was doing my research on fixing the screen that I actually found out that my son was innocent.

Our TV is a Samsung Plasma TV. A 2011/2012 model I believe. Apparently there were a number of similar stories to mine of TV’s having a crack from one of the units within the TV blowing up internally.

Upon careful inspection I even realized that the crack was internal and not external. Meaning my son was innocent.

I guess the guys from TV land were pissed.

I was happy however that it was not my son who spoilt the TV. I learned a valuable lesson as a parent and Christian that day.

Our past does not define our future. My sons actions in the past were not sufficient to make him guilty. I should have reserved playing the blame game till I had all the facts.

Though rough in his play, I have never seen my son throw stuff at the TV or tried to hit it with something. He loves his TV and cartoons.

The first TV that got messed up wasn’t hanging on a wall. It was on a cabinet and he pushed it over accidentally.

I don’t think we did well as parents in our perception of our son. I guess God used this to show us a valuable lesson about judging.

Thankfully we did not scold him or beat him. I would have felt pretty guilty if I had.

That however, is the life of a parent. We learn along the way and through our mistakes. Let’s see the lessons life presents us and share our experiences to help make the world a better place.

Now on to figuring out how to get Teletubbies back into my sons lives.

Keep it One Hondred!

*dumsor – Ghanaian slang for lights out

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Getting Out Of The Rabbit Hole

Easter for Christians is a time to reflect on the death of Christ, our sins and the salvation that resulted. For others it’s a time where the Easter Bunny comes out and plays a game with chicken eggs or chocolate eggs.

Whilst I don’t subscribe to the Easter Bunny, it reminds me of the rabbit hole that Alice in the story, Alice in Wonderland went through. Though she followed the rabbit out of curiosity, just like Alice, we find ourselves in our own rabbit holes. Places we don’t want to be but due to some error on our part or someone.

I sort of liken this to where people are before they find Christ. However, not everyone is a Christian. It is usually the story of Christ’s death and resurrection that gets one into becoming a Christian.

Romans 3 tells us that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That our righteousness or good deeds are like filthy rags to the Almighty. Not everyone connects with this line of thought nor the concept of Heaven and Hell. However, regarding the concept of being broken, I believe we all can connect.

There is a point in life where you are going to do something, right or wrong, that will either embarrass, bring pain, loss, or result in you being broken in spirit, in need of encouragement or hope.

Sometimes we are lost. We think we know why we on a certain path only to realize that it doesn’t quite lead to where we thought it would. Unfortunately this lost feeling can lead us further down the rabbit hole, leave us stuck in the hole or find us climbing out.

One can only climb out with hope of a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, not all find hope easy to come by. Those stuck in the rabbit hole choose to stay there or plunge further below because it sounds like an easier way to deal with the humiliation. No one after all likes mockery or an “I told you so” moment.

No one in my opinion has suffered the shame and humiliation that Jesus faced in his journey down the rabbit hole. A man who rode into Jerusalem a week ago to praises and celebration as a king to be arrested on false charges and mocked for being a king a week after. Beaten and traded for a criminal with the people, some of who said praise him now shouting “crucify him”.

All this occurred to show us that we should not fret when similar situations befall us.

Jesus performed powerful miracles, raised many from the dead and made powerful declarations. At the cross however, it seemed the man who had all this power and authority could do nothing to save himself. Even one of the men He was crucified with mocked Him.

It sort of reminds me of Hulk in the Avengers Infinity War movie. Bruce throughout the movie struggled to bring Hulk out and it was perceived that was because of fear or wounded pride on the part of Hulk due to his defeat during the fight he had with Thanos in the opening scene. It was rather because Hulk was tired of only being called out when Bruce needed saving or needed to be a hero.

Jesus could save Himself but chose not to because in His death, He gave us the greatest gift of all, Salvation. Jesus went down the rabbit hole to get us out. After all the pain, mockery and suffering he took on, he was raised on the third day. He achieved more than waking up from the dead. He conquered death, made it possible for us to connect with God more directly, freed us from the clutches of sin and gave us power to become better people to make the world a better place.

It was only once these things were achieved that He came out of the rabbit hole and showed us how we too can get out.

People may be seeing you the wrong way. Deep down you are person who wants to live right. Circumstances find you living a life you don’t want to live but don’t know how to change.

We have the hope through Jesus that we can change. No matter how many times we fall or plunge into the hole of shame we have in us the capacity to rise up and rise up victoriously. This hope is available to ALL.

As a Christian, I invite you today to share in this hope. I am not inviting you to be religious. I am inviting you to have peace. You are not a failure and can rise like Jesus out of whatever situation you find yourself in. No situation you are in is exempt from the hope that Jesus provides.

People use stories and movies as inspiration. Today I am offering something similar, only true and with a precious promise should you be willing to believe and accept.

Jesus went through all that suffering for you and I. He rose to prove to us that he is the way, the truth and the life. If you are in need of hope look no further. Keep it One Hondred and come to Jesus. He and the Easter Bunny May be the same after all.

Wink wink

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Don’t Worry

Have you ever lost something important? Money, passport, ID card, bank cards, receipts, certificates etc

Its an awful feeling that makes one wish their body had a rewind button to retrace their steps. You search high and low for the item and wonder where it could have gone.

Such situations literally suck the life and fun out of a day. All because you are forced into a game of hide and seek that you don’t seem to be good at. The stress and worry about something that for the moment does not want to be found is indeed staggering.

Today I am going to share with you my secret on finding such items. This is after you have thrown a search party and still are unable to locate the missing item.

  1. Stop worrying

This is the first step to finding the item. How is worrying going to help in the search for the item? Not worrying rather let’s you carry on with life and presents more opportunities for you to walk right into the item than worrying.

2. Pray

I know what you are thinking. God probably has better things to be concerned about right?

No matter how small or big a deal this missing item is, it matters to God as well. Commit the search party into God hands and relax. This is similar to playing those video games where you have an option to release an amazing move at the tap of a button when you are at your wits end.

God our Father is all knowing and all seeing. If He cannot find it then it’s not meant to be found.

  • 3. Remind yourself to STOP WORRYING
  • Since you are human, you are likely to worry despite leaving things in God’s hands. The situation is in a professionals hands. You couldn’t do a better job if you tried. Stop worrying and relax.
  • 4. Accept your fate

    • More often than not you will find the item. Sometimes it will take a while before finding the item and other times you will never find the item.

    Whatever the outcome, accept your fate and live a happy life giving praise to Him. There is a reason why things turned out the way they did.

    From personal experience this is what I do and always find what I am looking for.

    Recently I lost my Passport and a number of important documents as they were all together.

    For the life of me, I could not remember where I had left my little bag of vital documents. I had looked everywhere and decided that it was likely to be in the office.

    Alas, whenever I entered the office, I got so busy that I forgot to look for it.

    I had retraced my movements on the day I noticed it missing and remembered where I had been but doubted that I left such a thing behind. If I did I trusted a call will come through informing me.

    Now it has been almost a week and I have not yet found this bag. I was a bit worried for my passport and ID cards were missing but I chose to stay cool instead.

    Today as I got to the office I looked around for it and still did not find it. I committed the bag into prayer and continued my day believing that I would find the bag.

    On my way home from work. I said a short prayer and left things in God’s hands. As I approached home, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look in a place in the house that I could have sworn I checked out. Behold, as I looked there, there it was. I was overjoyed in God’s unfailing track record.

    For a week I could have stressed myself out and panicked. How would that have benefited those around me?

    I instead trusted in God to have my back and went about my life knowing that I had a dependable entity on the job.

    Faith in God is displayed in various ways. Use such situations to build your faith in the Almighty. If God cannot help you find whatever it is that is missing how do you expect Him to deal with your salvation or finding you when you lose your way?

    Just keep it One Hondred and give the Big Man a shot. It’s a free service after all .

    “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

    ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭MSG‬‬

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    Diplomatic Immunity

    Diplomatic immunity in lay man’s term is an individual’s “you can’t touch me” card. It is sometimes used in conjunction with M.C Hammer’s “You Can’t Touch This” hit single to make situations the more irritating.

    People with diplomatic immunity are usually foreigners. They are in a land other than theirs and are not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution because they are diplomats.

    You may have seen the term floating around the news or in tv shows and sometimes wonder why it even exists. I am no lawyer to explain the reasoning behind diplomatic immunity but I know it is important, just sometimes abused.

    Yesterday at church, the preacher touched on God’s assurance of protection. In my spirit what resonated in me was diplomatic immunity.

    Are you aware that Christians have access to diplomatic immunity?

    If you view it as we are foreigners here on earth, then as ambassadors for Christ, we have diplomatic immunity.

    Psalm 91 amongst other bible verses speaks about the protection God’s children/ambassadors have access to.

    To access this protection Psalm 91:14-16 states this:

    ““If you’ll hold on to me for dear life,” says GOD, “I’ll get you out of any trouble. I’ll give you the best of care if you’ll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times; I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party. I’ll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!””

    ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭91:14-16‬ ‭MSG‬‬

    These are amazing words of assurance. Way better than what a Government can provide. We all have the opportunity to take hold of this assurance for we are all God’s children.

    However, only those who hold on to him or take Christ as their Lord and personal savior have access to this. It’s similar to how only the family of diplomats have diplomatic immunity. You have to join the family to enjoy the benefits.

    This is not to say that God doesn’t love those who are not Christian. Rather, it’s Him stretching His hand out to help all enjoy the protection he offers.

    Some Christians may question whether this actually works. I humbly ask that we all look into our faith and ask whether we truly believe that God is in our lives.

    Have you really let go of your burdens?

    Is Jesus your Lord and personal savior?

    These are simple yet heavy questions that draw the line between being a Christian and being a person of the world.

    All I am asking is for us to reflect on our relationship with God and be sure that His is with us. For many claim to be Christians and yet don’t act like Christ.

    And while that’s a tough act to follow and we all fall short, we do not seem to trust God and His ability to change our ways.

    We live in a world where no one is safe. One could be struck with illness, cancer a tumor or die suddenly. An accident could occur and no human or insurance company can assure you of prevention.

    Wouldn’t it be a good idea to ensure you have God’s assurance that He has you and your family’s best interests?

    Read Psalm 91 to get a full grasp of what God is offering. I prefer reading it in the Message version. Try and read it as often as you can to strengthen your faith in the Lord.

    As long as you are holding onto God and believe this scripture I believe you will live a blessed life.

    Keep it One Hondred!

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    Be Optimistic Like The Red Devils

    I am a proud die hard Manchester United fan. By die hard I don’t mean I watch every game, enter arguments or get THAT emotional when things go bad for the team. After all I am not getting paid like the players but I will support the team in good times and bad times. I guess you could call it a marraige.

    I decided to become a Manchester United fan in 1999. It was a couple of days before the UEFA finals that year and there was a lot of talk in school about whether Manchester United would beat Bayern Munich.

    People were taking sides and at that time I didn’t have a clue of what was going on or the history that the two teams had built for themselves.

    I am not really a soccer person but it felt wrong to not be bothered about this game and the ticket to participate in the discussions, arguments or pride talks was to choose a side.

    Manchester, I believe by the UEFA finals had already won the Premier League and the FA Cup and were in route to obtain the UEFA cup making it a treble. I on the other hand had no clue about this and did not utilize this as a reason to choose Manchester.

    I only leaned in the direction of Bayern Munich for patriotic reasons or so I thought. Samuel Kuffour, was a Ghanaian defender on the Bayern Munich squad so my thoughts initially were in favor of Bayern.

    I did not make a decision till the day of the match. My younger brother was a Manchester fan and I guess on the day I decided to trust in the colour red and trust in my brothers tastes. We had sibling rivalry like any other normal family and I didn’t think soccer would have been a good reason for us to fight. So I went with Manchester.

    Bayern were the first to score that day and I remember asking myself in thought whether I had made the right decision. But I stuck to my red colour.

    In the closing minutes of the match I did think of announcing my divorce from Manchester. After all, this was my first match as a fan. I felt the rules would permit me to leave as a fan and move to Bayern as long as the match is not over……..but I stuck with Manchester.

    In extra time miracles occurred. In quick succession, two substitutes that came in before extra time delivered the saving goals that saw Manchester win the treble and saw me become a fan for life. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were the substitute players who saved the day to the shock of the Bayern players and fans who believed they had won.

    Fast forward almost 20 years later, Manchester find themselves in similar waters in the UEFA cup. Honestly, I didn’t watch the match between Manchester and PSG but followed the highlights. I wasn’t surprised by the performance of the club. Such optimism hasn’t been felt in Manchester for a while but when the manger leading the team on is no other than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, an individual who has seen the team persevere time and time and again and has a spirit of hope, anything is possible.

    I won’t bore you by breaking down how Manchester we’re victorious that night but rather shift the tone of the conversation a bit.

    Part of the reason why I am a Manchester United fan is because on and off the pitch the team has a never say die attitude that has seen it become the most valuable soccer team.

    This is a team that almost went bankrupt; had a fair share of financial problems; had its stadium bombed during the world war and lost an entire football squad in a plane crash amongst other disappointments. That coupled with their battles on the field which sometimes prove difficult make them a team that gels with my spirit of optimism.

    If you are going to be optimistic then you have to have unshifting faith. Had I at the last moment moved as a fan to Bayern Munich, I would not be able to revel in the joy celebrated in victory minutes later.

    Sometimes we have fought or struggled towards a goal always believing that things will change; only to give up at the very minute that things were about to change for good.

    The question is how do you know when that change is coming? My answer is you don’t. However, the benefits of hanging on to what you believe outweigh giving up. (If you’re fighting for a good thing)

    Things may be bad for you and yes, it may seem as if you are destined for failure. Nevertheless, you have to believe in yourself and keep fighting on.

    This is always easier in my opinion if you have Jesus with you. He always knows how to provide the right word or send a person your way to encourage you.

    “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of Life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12

    So don’t give up. It’s easy to think that the successful are successful because they’ve always had it all but that’s not the case. Everyone started from somewhere including great Manchester United.

    “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9

    You too can accomplish the mission deemed impossible. As long as your intentions are pure and you are right with the Lord. It’s just cooler when you are a Manchester fan and more importantly believe in Jesus.

    Keep it ONE HONDRED!

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    My breakup with Social Media

    Hondred: Thanks for meeting me on short notice. I have been trying to have this conversation with you for a while but it’s been difficult getting the words out of my mouth.
    SM: Y didn’t u just link up on Whatsapp or DM me on twitter or something?
    Hondred: I could have but I prefer doing this face to face as opposed to sending messages and stuff.
    SM: K so wassup?
    Hondred: There is no easy way to say this but here goes. I don’t think this relationship thing is working. There is too much going on. Every minute something is happening and let’s face it you hog and demand attention.
    SM: Gimme a min. Sori I didn’t get dat I was responding 2 ma gal on Twitter. Say that again.
    Hondred: (Shaking my head) your attitude just confirms it. I don’t see you adding any value to my life right now. At first I thought I did but lately I realize that I am too connected to you. So I know things I shouldn’t know and I feel obliged to respond and act a certain way online with you. I don’t believe the impact I want to make is what we have right now so I think we should break up.
    SM: WOW! I definitely didn’t see that comin. But can’t we work things out?
    Hondred: I don’t know. When I think about everything and add your bad grammar and spelling to the mix. It makes things even more complicated. I mean don’t get me wrong I see the importance of having you with me, it’s just that right now I need some space. Maybe when my head is clear and I am less stressed I will find a way of making this relationship work.
    So the conversation above never happened but in a fantasy world somewhere, this could have been the way I broke up with social media.
    I don’t know about you but sometimes the notifications, information and updates feels overwhelming and stressful that one needs to take a break from social media.
    For a couple of weeks now that’s what I have done and honestly it has given me clarity and insight on the toxicity that social media can cause in ones life.
    Constantly being on your phone and being out of touch with reality has its negatives. Without the right perspective and balance one can end up prioritizing their phone and social media than family or personal life. Peoples lives on social media rarely mirror their reality. The selfies at the malls proclaiming life is good do not reflect what is in the fridge or what one is having for supper that night.
    There was a time where every morning I woke up I would check my phone for updates on how many likes I had received or how many people have read my blog post. Is this what I live for? I feel sad even thinking about it.
    As a Christian it affected me because I was not spending time in the Word as I wanted to due to me prioritizing activities on social media and leaving no time for God.
    As an independent artist it’s crazy because you have to develop content to put up to keep fans and potential fans informed and interested in your brand. Without a team to help you it becomes extremely difficult especially when you are juggling a 9 to 5 as well.
    Welcome to my world. At a point I was blogging about something each day. It was quite the challenge and I rather enjoyed those times but being realistic it took up a lot of time and often I felt like I was forcing and rushing the content than actually talking about stuff in a manner that will bring about impact.
    I guess it boils down to the question of “why bother?”
    I mean I could choose to be an observer and not contribute on social media. However, I take the gift that God has blessed me with as an artist and realize that part of being the light and salt of the earth is to share information that helps, encourages or brings about positive change.
    Keeping quiet for me is quite selfish for there is a lot I experience daily that I believe the world can benefit from. This specific blog post is an example and I am doing this to connect with others who I know go through emotions similar to those which I have shared in this post.
    I just have to plan my social media life better in a way that doesn’t bring about stress. I should do it for the love and not for the likes. For the impact and not the stats. Remember, just because the stats do not reflect your desires doesn’t mean your work has not impacted someone.
    People have walked up to me and reminded about some things I had done in the past on social media which I never thought gathered any attention. You will be surprised the kind of offline action that social media has. It’s just difficult to report on but it does happen.
    So if you are like me and broke up with social media or are considering breaking with her/him. Try reflecting instead on how you can make the relationship more meaningful and less toxic.
    Keep it One HONDRED!

    Posted on

    Being Gay Is Unnatural But So Is Walking On Water

    “Homosexuality is unnatural..” says this book, where snakes talk, apples set an eternal curse, people come back from the dead, a guy walks on water, and a virgin has a baby!


    I saw this post on social media and I must applaud whoever came up with this argument. Its well crafted (just next time give the Bible the respect it deserves and call it out instead of referring to it as “this book”).
    I say its well crafted because for a second there, the logic within seems to cement the idea that natural is right and unnatural is wrong. (Thank God that only lasts a second)
    As a Christian I realize that such posts have a tendency to ruffle the feathers of Christians throwing us into a so called frenzy of name calling and bashing with phrases like “God save you”, “Burn in hell” and the likes. 
    I always get embarrassed when I see such online simply because Jesus would not act like that. 
    So How Will Jesus Act?

    In other words what will I do as an ambassador for Christ. Well, I have acknowledged the statement and complimented its craftiness. What I am about to do is point out why its a weak argument to justify homosexuality.
    Is Natural Good?
    The post seems to suggest that unnatural as a concept runs throughout the Bible and that some unnatural events are seen as good so how come homosexuality is not seen in that light? 
    Great use of logic. Unfortunately if I flip the argument around it renders the original argument as weak.
    Lying is natural to someone that needs to get out of a tight spot. Adultery, premarital sex or any sort of sexual interaction outside marriage is natural. Even eating more than you need to consume is natural. Does this mean all these are good? All these natural acts according to God is sin.
    There are natural and unnatural things that are considered sin and natural and unnatural things that are not considered sin.
    There are unnatural things that are cool to view such as someone flying or walking on water. We even see these when magicians pull tricks and create illusions. Its all perceived as unnatural yet not a ‘no go area’ concept. (Thats not to say the miracles and unnatural Godly events was a magic show) 
    The idea of homosexuality however, is disturbing and unnatural. Especially the idea of two members of the same sex mating (for females its more understandable though still wrong) .
    But sin is sin. Be it natural or unnatural, understandable or not, right is right and wrong is wrong. 
    As a Christian, Homosexuality is wrong in God’s eyes. The same goes for adultery, rape, lying and a host of others acts. Each of us is dealing with ourselves to become better people. 
    So lets call a spade a spade and also realize that none of us is perfect. In our journey towards perfection as humans, it is important to do your part and focus on being a better person and not worry about whether someone is living a moral life or not. 
    The Bible summarizes this well
    ““Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”
    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:1-5‬ ‭MSG‬‬
    If you are not a Christian and interested or curious about the path to Christ, just message me and I will hit you up for a chat. It doesn’t matter how bad or off the moral map you have gone. God accepts all kinds and I am proof of that.
    Keep it One HONDRED!

    Posted on

    Running Out Of Salt?

    Matthew 5:13-14 is popularly known as the “salt and light” verse. Yesterday after Church I found myself wondering whether my Christian salt was still any good.
    Our church is a small one. Yesterday we moved onto our land for our maiden service. Our church building is in the process of being built and to encourage ourselves, the church took a step of faith by worshipping on the land to ensure that the church is built.
    This being Ghana however, we had some visitors after church service that were called over by some authority in what seems to be confusion over who the land belongs to. 
    The area which the land is situated is surrounded by some other churches which are still building and another which started not too long ago apparently belonging to a prophet from Kumasi. Its this church that there seems to be confusion over the land.
    Three days earlier two of our church members had come onto the land to do some weeding prior to the service on Sunday. From their account, the prophet and some people working on their site came over to ask what their business was on the land. They were violent in their conduct towards our members and even slapped one of them.
    Fast forward back to Sunday after church when we were approached by our visitors. Our visitors were Muslims on an errand to find out like the prophet and his people, what our business on the land was. According to our church member who was attacked, the Muslims were far nicer than the Christians that attacked them.
    Islam and Christianity are alike in a number of respects. Both promote respect, peace and love for one another. Its sad however that people claiming to be Christians treat other Christians with disdain all because of a misunderstanding. 
    If our Muslim visitors had a violent clash with us, it would have been blammed on religious differences and whilst that is unacceptable, its weirdly more tolerable than Christians against Christians.

    Be the salt of the earth
    Be the salt of the earth

    Christians against Christians or Chritians against Muslims is against all that the Bible teaches. Unfortunately in 2017, the year begins with me realizing that though Ghana is a religious nation, the love expected from those claiming to be religious (and from my point of view, Christians) are not showing a pinch of the character emanating from Christ.
    This is evidence that we as Christians have a lot of love share. Amongst ourselves and the rest of the world. 
    This is why I believe Christians are losing their salt. At the very moments where we can display Christ like behavior it seems as if the opposite happens. 
    Being like Jesus is a continuous journey of grace. He is all perfection and we are so far away from it. It is through Him that the goodness of life shines through us.
    So how good is your salt?
    Keep it One Hondred!