The Trials of A Mohican In Nigeria

I often ask myself why I insist on keeping my mohican hairstyle; and no matter how many times the question pops up the answers are always the same.

1. I like this hairstyle

And

2. Doing my bit to help people to stop judging things on appearance alone.

Whilst discussing the endemic moral decay that has decimated authentic relationships and society in general a few days ago a friend of mine stated "the prettier the girl the more likely she's immoral."
Whilst I wouldn't quite go so far I can understand where he's coming from. Looks can indeed be very very deceiving. And there lies my point. If there's one major area of weakness we Nigerians possess it is our unfortunate penchant for judging everything and everyone by appearance.

Just as a great suit and tie doesn't guarantee anything resembling substance or intelligence on the inside, so too a slightly eccentric or non conventional appearance  doesn't mean the individual in front of you is any less serious or intelligent than you are.

But this isn't such a serious a piece as the first few paragraphs suggest. Rather I want to have a little giggle about the trials one goes through as a result of wearing a mohican.

Here are a few of my interesting experiences.


After meeting with the COO of a prospective partner a few weeks ago, I asked to see the CEO, who is not only a great friend but also like an older sister to me. As soon as she saw me she said
"Segun please cut this hair. You look like one of those hari krishna people. You won't get those billion dollar deals with this kind of hairstyle-o."

I must confess that because I look up to her, those comments shook me to my bones. In-fact I'm pretty sure I staggered precariously out of their office as against walking off in my usual swagger. So much did her comments affect me that I determinedly figured out a way to make it look flatter when needs be.


And there is a man I admire as an achiever, respect as a great man, and look up to as a father-like figure. As I cheerfully bowed to greet him many months ago at his son's birthday barbecue he blurted out, "Ahh, Akande, you too have done this thing?! But don't worry, there's another young man that had the same hairstyle. I told him to come and see me, and then I prayed for him. He soon cut it off. You'll be okay. Just come and see me when you have the time."

How else can one react to such a highly esteemed father figure but laugh along respectfully and vaguely convey that you'll attend for the necessary prayers?!

Whilst chatting outside church after a midweek service a few weeks ago the eleven year-old grandson of one of my late father's friends walked up to me and gave me a big hug. After the hug he looked at my hair and said, " Uncle I love your hair. I used to have the same style when I was young."

Chai!!!

4. But the piece de resistance must go to the senior vicar that led the service of my aunt's 75th birthday at the Anglican Church of Resurrection in 1004.

It was during my church's (Victory Sanctuary) fasting period; so when the senior vicar asked us to come for communion I happily obliged - choosing to break my fast a little earlier that day. Ever the gentleman I kept allowing others to go before me, until I found myself being the only person kneeling on the pew with hands outstretched, waiting eagerly if not a touch nervously to be served. As the vicar approached me I noticed his eyes were fixed squarely on one thing alone - the top of my head. He hesitated, then looked to the colleague on his right for assurance that this strange looking fellow kneeling before them was indeed waiting for communion and not somehow lost in transit on his way to a rave in Upminister. His colleague nodded as if to say, 'well, what's the worst that could happen?!' The senior vicar then gingerly took a couple of steps towards me and asked in bellowed voice, "are you here for communion?"

"Yes sir," I replied, now feeling a tad uncomfortable by the burning hole being etched into my back by the eagerly awaiting gazes of every pair of eyes in the congregation. Fortunately for me there were no more questions from the vicar. He proceeded to serve me without further ado.

After the service my cousin walked up to me and said, in total hysterics I might add, "Segs, for a moment there I thought he wouldn't serve you because of your hair. It was close-o."

But you know what?! There are also some very encouraging reactions. Such as the old lady that walked up to me a few weeks ago and said, "I really like your hairstyle. Makes you stand out. What do you do?"

"I'm a Sales Coach and an author," I replied.

She then smiled and looked me up and down again before saying, "I love it. Never be scared of looking different. Always be yourself."

And you know what?! For every twenty negative reactions or statements I may get, all I need to do is remember what that old lady said to remind me of the very reason I wear a mohican.

I love this hairstyle!  And I hope my courage (or foolishness - call it what you will) to wear it encourages more people to just be themselves.

What Does God Look Like To You?

Whilst watching the film 'Exodus, Gods and Kings' last week, in which God is depicted as a young boy, the following thought popped into my head - 'What does God look like? If I was asked to draw a picture of God, what would I draw?'

You're probably wondering what the point or relevance of such an exercise is, but trust me, if we are to have a truly personal relationship with God then the way we picture or imagine Him is not only important but very significant.

Would I have to draw two pictures of God? - one of the old testament and another depicting the God of the new testament?

To be perfectly honest I was a little stuck. So I decided to pose the same question to some of my good friends.

Here's what they had to say.

"When you asked I immediately thought of the picture from exodus - The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night - That's how I see God - Cloud and Fire."

"In my head......all I imagine I would be able to "see" would be this massive ball of bright white light that I won't be able to look at directly. It'll be too bright to see the actual physical being in its radiating from.
I've thought of this before and that's honestly what I've always imagined He would look like if standing in front of me."

"I will draw by the name (lion of the tribe of Judah) so I will draw a lion with fire around it. ‎

"I know a lot of people imagine Him as a Gandalf lookalike - White long hair and beard. Well, when I was younger I subscribed to the same thing. But now, I see God as light. The Bible says that the Cherubims and Seraphims cover their faces with their feathers as God's glory is overwhelming.Then again, the Bible also says that we're made in God's image. So I'm thinking God has our features but is also light."

"Jesus maybe( and that's because I think he will appear according to my understanding)."

"He is like a human form, an illuminating light in a distance and hard to see."

"Well he would definitely look like man."


"He is very old, has a long white beard, bushy white hair, and wears a flowing white dress or robe."

"He is young, He has eyes, sees all things, he has ears, arms and legs, and a good heart. He gave up his only son for us."

"God in my mind would be somewhere in between a woman and a man (as in features), probably like a child in size."

"I would draw a picture of man. Afterall the bible says we are made in His likeness."

I'm of the opinion that God looks different to each and everyone of us. I'm struggling to put a face on him but what I can picture is a very loving arm around me. If I had asked myself this same question a few years ago I would probably have drawn something fierce and stern looking. Lol

However I'm starting to see God more and more as a God of infinite love and mercy. And the only way in which I can picture mercy and love is in a human form; which in itself is rather contradictory since us humans aren't so strong on love and mercy. But then again maybe that's the point. Maybe the more we picture God as a God of Love and Mercy, the more loving and merciful we become - in His image.

So if you see God as light, see Him as a light of love and mercy. If you see Him as half man half woman, see him as a very loving and merciful half man half woman. If you see him as Cloud and Fire, see him as a Cloud of Love, and a gentle loving fire. And if he's a lion, then a cuddly, loving and merciful lion with the sure ability to be fierce and ruthless when fighting for you - never against you.

Whatever picture you draw, make sure Love and Mercy are the dominant features.

Maje's HIIT Squad

Okay we all know I'm a bit of a running addict. Indeed as far as I'm concerned it's nigh impossible to be much fitter than I am!!!

At least that's what I thought until I did a session with the HIIT Squad.

How do I explain this?
30 minutes of pleasure, fun, hell, excitement, pain, joy, and pure elation. You will feel all aforementioned emotions at different intervals; but the overwhelming emotions that stay with you for several days afterwards are Joy and Elation.

I wanted to give up at least three times. Within 10 minutes of commencing I was so disorientated from exhaustion that I was literally seeing stars. In-fact I'm fairly sure I saw the original Star of David!‎

But somehow Maje kept me going - superb coach!!

A 30 minute session with the HIIT Squad will not only empower you physically but also mentally - it pushed me to boundaries I never thought I was capable of.

If you want to attain a higher level of physical and mental fitness (upping your concentration levels, focus, determination and perseverance) in 2016 then I highly recommend sessions with the HIIT Squad - 14 Adebayo Doherty, Lekki Phase One. 

30 minute sessions commence from 6am, and run until 9am from Mondays to Saturdays;  evenings from 6pm.

Finally, please allow me to pay homage to a man I believe was one of the few True Living Legends of our time.

When one considers David Bowie's gargantuan contribution to the music industry the words that come to mind are 'Musical Genius, Courageous, Innovation, Constantly Evolving, Great, Suave, Authority, Master Entertainer, Fashion Icon, Art, Creative Genius, Iconic Lyricist, New Frontiers, and Leader of His Generation.'

I couldn't help but shed a few tears as I fondly recalled songs such as Ziggy Stardust, China Girl, Oh! You Pretty Things, Ashes to Ashes, Hereos, Let's Dance, and 'Ch ch' Changes.


We will miss you.  Our loss is heaven's gain.

Adieu Ziggy

Thank you for the many many many wonderful songs.

RIP David Bowie
8th January 1947 - 11th January 2016

Be True

More than a few people have asked me recently whether or not I'll be writing another political piece soon. Indeed when I received a message from a good friend of mine yesterday evening asking me why there hasn't been a political article from my end recently I was mightily tempted to plough straight into one. But alas, my spirit directed me to do something else - just for you.

I don't usually watch The X Factor (way too scripted and formulated for me), but I thank God I watched last Sunday's final. Three of the guest singers / bands on the show were Rod Stewart - still so marvellously successful in his 70s, Adele - who continues to soar to unimaginable heights of popularity and achievement (heavens me she has a voice!), and Cold Play - in my opinion Britain's most authentic and successful band of the past decade.

All of them - Rod Stewart, Adele, and Chris Martin (Cold Play) were separately asked to offer the two finalists some career advice.

They all gave exactly the same advice;

"Always be true to yourself."

In a world wherein we're constantly told how we should look, talk, walk, and what we should be doing (career wise) the temptation to copy others, or simply adhere to societal norms and general expectations is often overpowering. As a result too many dreams are drowned, too many passions suffocated, and way too much authenticity diluted to the point of decimation.

As my good friend Lanre Olusola said to me a while back;

"One of the biggest problems that exists in Nigeria today is that of the Copy-cat Syndrome."

Too many people spend far too much time and energy trying to be like others. The fact of the matter is that the only person that can be a great Mr. Johnson is Mr. Johnson. So why copy him when you already have so much power, talent, and uniqueness inside you to be a great YOU?!

As we approach the end of 2015 I want to encourage you to do two very important things that will not only enable you to have a fulfilled 2016, but also positively change your life forever.

1. Identify who You are

And

2. Identify what You're passionate about

Once you've done the above, map out an effective plan to actualise your true goals - based on your findings.

I'm sure you've heard successful / famous people say "I'm living the dream". What they actually mean is that they're fulfilling what they were created to do.

There are five keys to actualising your dream;

1. Courage
The courage to not only make a start, but to keep going when everything and everyone around you is telling you that it can't be done.

2. Passion
It's your passion that will keep you going when things get tough.

3. Hard work
There's no substitute for hard work. You've got to put in those hours of building Knowledge and Expertise.

4. Focus
Focus on three things.
- who you are
- how you add value
- how to continuously build and develop

5. Dedication and Perseverance
Your success won't come overnight. There will be moments of doubts, failure, and discouragement. But so long as you know and believe in where you're going, never ever give up. The difference between success and failure is not giving up.

There are thousands of people waiting for you to start being who you were created to be. Their needs are fully reliant on your courageous acceptance and embrace of who you are.

Be True To Yourself.


I've just completed the next five editions of my children's book, so the writing side of my brain is about to implode.lol... As such I'll be off air until the second week of January.

What will I be doing?

Probably watching The Force Awakens as many times as is possible.

In the meantime kindly permit me to wish you and your family the very Safest, Best, and most Happy Christmas and New Year.

What Really Matters?

Were you created to be like that seemingly perfect man /woman you see at church every week - or the one that lives across the road - or even the one you see on TV?

Were you created to be super wealthy with many plush properties and luxury cars?
You may very well have been. But it's also possible that you weren't.

We're bombarded by subliminal messages on a daily basis  - more or less telling us that the key to happiness and fulfillment lies in the millions / billions / trillions in our bank accounts.

But what happens when you don't get those millions?

Frustration, anger, resentment, and depression set in.

The irony is the root of your frustration is not so much the missing millions but the simple fact that you're on the wrong path - not doing what you were created to do.

Let's get one thing absolutely clear.

When you're using the talents that God bestowed on you to serve and to add value to the lives of others, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll become a multi millionaire. But be rest assured that God will provide for all your needs.

1. Serving others doesn't mean doing things for free. It means using your talents to provide a service in exchange for fair compensation /remuneration.

2.  People are always willing to pay for Value.

A few days ago someone told me something that made the whole of the past three years so very worthwhile. She said;
‎
"I've just finished reading Home. Wow!! It really made me see God in a different light. And I can't wait to get to heaven. Not that I'm goiing to speed it up or anything, but I now realise this life on earth is nothing compared to an eternity of God's love, joy, and peace."

Whilst writing Home the Lord told me he wanted to use it to enable people to see Him in his true light - a God of Pure and Unconditional Love.

At that very moment, when my friend told me what the book did for her, I felt more happy and fulfilled than ever before.

So what am I saying?
1. Figure out what you were created to do.
2. Draw up a step by step plan of how you're going to do it.
3. Start now

‎
Still wondering what your talents are?
1. List five moments in your life when you achieved something you're very proud of.
2. Identify the talents you used to achieve each one.
‎
Then to confirm, call three close friends or family members that know you well, and ask them what they believe your biggest strengths are.

You weren't created to be like everyone else.
You were created to be you - with specific talents for a specific purpose.
It's time to start being the real you. ‎

Believe That You Are His Beloved

One of the most common and indeed dangerous of thoughts that runs through the mind when life is tough - be-it financial, fear of remaining single, fear of not having children, or fear of not getting a job - is 'what is wrong with me?'.

This question is neither from God nor you.  

Satan is a wiley old character; and one of his greatest tricks is to slip such negatives suggestions into our minds, disguising them as our own. Add the daily guilt and self condemnation of past mistakes and failings and we have a fairly big problem. For it results in believing that God is somehow withholding his blessings from our lives, as a result of past sins and mistakes. 

Unfortunately our churches' emphasis on what we must do to earn God's love and righteousness further accentuates these negative thoughts and fears; enabling Satan to have a field day. 

"In your anger do not sin". 

Ephesians 4 vs 26

'what is wrong with me?' -  leads to God is withholding His blessings from me - which leads to anger and resentment of both God and yourself. And what happens when anger and fear reign in our hearts and minds? We rebel - or as the bible puts it, 'sin in anger'. 

In other words we say "you know what Lord, I'm tired of this. If you're not going to help me, then I may as well do whatever I want, any way I want."

God is not withholding His blessings from you because of past mistakes. The bible says that He remembers your sins no more. 

You are His beloved child; and you don't have to do anything to earn that, because Jesus has already done everything. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. That thought is not from you, and it most certainly isn't from God.

You are and always will be His Beloved Child. 

Believe

Whilst reading the story of David and Goliath yesterday, it occurred to me that Goliath's armour was probably worth more that David's entire family - and quite possibly the entire Israelite infantry. 

But this didn't deter David. He believed God was on his side and advanced. 

Last week I pointed out the importance of being honest with one's self and others regarding one's situation. But this doesn't mean one should wallow in self pity. It's vital to keep believing, and to keep moving forward - no matter what.

Last Saturday morning I went for a 10km run. I usually do a much longer distance on Saturday mornings but I hadn't been feeling too well for most of the week so I decided to take it easy on myself. When I first started it I felt so unwell and weak. Every part of me wanted to return to my bed. But I visualized the route of my run and visualized myself getting to the finish line. In truth it was probably one of the most painful and horrible runs I've ever been on. But when I got to the finish line I was ecstatic, and I instantly realized something; at times during life's journey, everything around you can look totally horrible and insurmountable. But if you just keep going, keeping your eyes on the goal, you'll be shocked by what you can achieve.

So my message for you today is to fear not. Things may look bad and impossible right now, but keep going, and believe that God is with you.

You will get to your desired destination.

Keep It Real

Can someone please tell me why Naija Christians always say things are great when they obviously aren't???

What am I talking about?

Try asking two or three people today how work / business / life is, and you'll most likely hear them say, "All is well", or "I am blessed", or "we thank God". Yes of-course we are blessed, and of-course we should thank God in all things, but does that really mean we shouldn't tell things the way they are?

Anyone that says life is great right now is lying their socks off. Life in today's Nigeria is excruciatingly tough. The economy is dreadfully difficult, and for most people things are painfully challenging; stress and worries galore!

So say it as it is, and you just might get an opportunity, or some help as a result; or at least someone to remember you in their prayers.

Furthermore there's nothing wrong with telling your unconditionally loving daddy in heaven things are tough, and that you're feeling a little fed up. I'm not saying you shouldn't praise Him or be thankful, but for heaven's sake keep it real.

Do you really think He doesn't know what's going on inside you?

Jesus lived on earth for 33 years, so He knows how tough life can be.

The Holy Spirit dwells inside you, so he's definitely in the know.

God loves you unconditionally - no matter what you say or do.

So for pete's sake, tell Him how you really feel. He'll not only comfort and assist you, but also show you the way to go. 

Keep It Real. 

Hold On To His Promises

In Genesis chapter 12 verses 1 to 3, God promises Abraham so many blessings, ranging from Prosperity to a Great Name and Great Family to Divine Favour and an Everlasting Legacy. 

He even assures him of his permanent safety - that anyone who comes against him will end up harming themselves.

Surely such a promise should have ensured a stress- free and worry-free life for Abraham. 

But a few chapters later we see Abraham panic for fear of losing his life; resorting to lying to Abimelech that his wife Sarah is his sister, so as to avoid what he thought would be certain death. 

This is a classic example of how we often forget who we are, and God's promises regarding our lives.

We are too often overwhelmed by what our eyes see, and how we feel. 

During this period of economic uncertainty and hardship, I want to encourage all of us (yep - definitely myself included) to remember and hold on to who we are in Christ, and the promises God has made concerning our lives.

Keep going, and trust that God's promises shall come to pass at the right time.

Has God Gone Soft?

During a conversation with a friend a few days ago, I was asked the following question;

"Are you saying that Grace means we should forget about obeying God's commandments?"

I proceeded to answer her question with another question. 

"Let's say you've spent all your life obeying all of God's commandments to the fullest. But on one particular day you fall into sin; and it so happens it is on that very day that Jesus returns, do you think you'll make it to heaven?"

He Always Wants What's Best For You

"Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan..."

Genesis 13 vs 10-11

Grace (Jesus) is an abundance of Mercy and Love.

There are times we think He is not with us, or not answering our prayers. But the fact of the matter is that very often it is because of His Grace, Mercy, and Love that God doesn't answer some of our prayers. For our eyes and desires can often be so terribly off the mark.

Lot's eyes were enticed by the well watered plain of the Jordan, so he chose what his eyes desired. But unfortunately it led to him settling down in Sodom and Gomora;  and we all know what eventually happened there.

A few years ago, my business partner and I, in search of riches, submitted our proposal to be one of the vocational training partners for the amnesty programme. Connected to several top people in government we were sure we would get the deal. We travelled back and forth for at least ten months, meeting various influential people in the previous government. We prayed, we fasted, we prayed, we fasted, we prayed, we prayed, we fasted. But no matter how close we got it never quite happened.

Victory In All Circumstances

'When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.'

Genesis 3 vs 6

It isn't a coincidence that Eve (mankind) was tested with the same temptations that Jesus faced whilst fasting in the wilderness. 

1. Fruit of the tree was good for food = lust of the flesh

2. Pleasing to the eye = lust of the eyes

3. Desirable for gaining wisdom = desire for power, authority, and in this day and age fame. 

Unfortunately Eve (mankind) was unable to resist such temptations and fell hook, line, and sinker. 

In this light it is easy to understand why God didn't want Adam and Eve to eat the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Due to an inherent penchant for selfish gains - be-it money, power, fame, or even relationships, we often make the wrong choices for our over-all wellbeing. 

But Jesus overcame all of Satan's temptations; not for His sake, but for Ours. 

Therefore even when we make the wrong choices, Grace(Jesus) is there to help us get on the right track again. 

By His Victory we also have Victory. 

It's All Down To Him

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."

Ephesians 1 vs 4

For me, this is one of the most powerful and revealing sentences about who we are and what our constant standing before God is. 

Bearing in mind that God is Omniscient - past, present, and future - it is of great relief and joy to know that He chose us to be holy and blameless in His sight long before our mistakes and failings; and therefore despite our mistakes and failings. 

Note - He chose - not the other way round. 

In other words it is all down to Him, and not us.

You are forever Holy and Blameless in God's sight. 

Focus not on your mistakes and failings, but on how much He Loves and Cherishes you. For this is what will give you life, peace, and power from within to walk in the knowledge and manner of who you truly are in Christ Jesus; a righteous and beloved child of God.

Time Flies

My goodness! Two weeks already??

How time flies!

But before delving back into Sales allow me to say a few words about my new novel - Home.

Quite a few people have asked me why this book is priced so low.

The reason is simple. 

My aim is not to make money from it, but to get as many people across the world to see God in His truest and only light - LOVE.

Our God is one of Unconditional Love, not one of reward and punishment. Christianity has always been centred on Love, and not dos' and don'ts, haves and have nots, or rich and poor.  

Sometimes as a result of our failings, mistakes, or just life's rollercoaster of a ride, getting through each day can be a bit of painful slug. I've come to realise that it's God's Unconditional Love, often expressed by those around us - parents, siblings, nephews and niece's, cousins, friends, wives, husbands, children - that enables us to keep going until we eventually get to our final destination - Heaven. 

This book will enable you to see God in a new and most True Light. 

Isn't it just Awesome that Jesus, he that created all things, is both your older brother and best friend?!!

So if you haven't already bought the book, I heartily recommend you do so. It will change your life. And as it does so, be sure to tell everyone you know about it, so that we can all benefit from God's Unconditional Love. 

All you Sales / Business people will be pleased to hear that my Sales Articles re-commence on Tuesday, 18th August. 

I'm back, and so happy to be so.

So What Exactly Is Home About

Asked by a dear friend what my objective for Home is a few days ago, I realised there and then that when I started writing it in 2012 I had absolutely no idea it was centred on Grace.

My hope is that through this book millions of people will see God as the Unconditionally Loving God that He is, as against one of reward and punishment. 

Whilst we will make mistakes and fall from time to time, it is our hearts that God looks at. 

Below are more reviews from different readers. 

"The part that got me stuck on the book was where they were riding away on their bicycles and the angels were standing ON THE ROAD SIDE and they didn't know. I didn’t know they were angels too at first. This book didn’t just get me thinking; I felt a peace within me. There is bubble on the inside that I feel when I think about HOME.  It's forever. It's HOME with all its meaning."

"Home opened my eyes to another dimension of God’s undying and unconditional love. I have never read the crucifixion and resurrection story in this light. This book helped me realise that I was holding back on things that have already been sorted out at the cross.  It could only have been God that gave Segun this great insight. Home gave me a picture of Heaven and its reality. A must read for everyone as we are all going HOME someday."

"Every now and then one reads a book that is both life-affirming and deeply personal. 'Home' is one such book. From the deep observations of human emotions and motivations, to the unique and imaginative take on celestial conversations, Home is undoubtedly one of those books that makes you wonder "what if that was me?".  Clever, insightful, thought-provoking and yet refreshing - you definitely want to read this book if you have even the faintest yearning to know what GRACE is all about!" 

Home is now available for Pre-purchase on Amazon Kindle. Click on the link below to make your order. 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013IAYNGU

HOME

 This book is centered on my fascination with the following four phenomena – Heaven, Angels, Life’s tortuous journey, and Grace.

I have for a long time been fascinated by heaven, and what people actually do there. For example, is it an exciting or boring place? I remember reading the scriptures many years ago and wondering whether all people ever do there is sing songs and worship God. Such thoughts certainly didn’t excite me; rather, the thought of bowing down to God over and over again and singing song after song after song caused me to dread going to heaven for fear of being consigned to an eternity of boredom.

But over the years I have come to realise that God is not a boring God. I choose to believe that heaven is a place where we will all be able to do the things we absolutely love doing - as much as we want, and when we want.

In the past five years, as well as going through a painful divorce I have lost an older sister, an older brother, and my father to cancer. My dear nephew also died very suddenly.

What struck me the most was that the more I openly discussed the pain I was going through, the more I realised that so many others were either experiencing their own personnel hell, or had already gone through something fairly similar.  Furthermore, one never truly knows or understands the reason for another person’s behaviour or circumstance until one delves a little deeper. There is always an underlying reason for someone’s behaviour – whether good or bad. It is for this reason that the book jumps around a lot – from past to present, and even to the future; producing a compilation of short, intertwined stories of life’s ups and downs, and the many consequences of our actions. Just as in real life we are all somehow linked with one another, the characters in ‘Home’ are all directly or indirectly interlinked.  

The one thing we all need, and desperately cling onto in this life is hope – hope for a better tomorrow; hope that things will not go wrong; hope that everything will turn out just fine; and hope that there is more to life than what we see on a daily basis.

Home is a book about not giving up – no matter what, in the hope of a better tomorrow, and an eternity of peace and joy.   

Humility Personified

" I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple."

Isaiah 6 vs 1

I find this verse to be such a magnificent and awesome description of our God that it's almost impossible to fathom or comprehend. 

Imagine for a second a God so majestic that his robes fill the temple. Now this isn't just about His robes, but even more so His presence - His aura - His glory. 

But the really amazing thing is that it is this same God who came down to earth to die for us. In other words He is so magnificent and majestic, and yet so humble and loving.

The reason our God wants us to be humble is because despite his awesomeness He is humility personified. 

He made us in His own image, so we are also designed to be loving and humble. 

Grace is Love - God's Unconditional Love for us. 

Want to know the key to growing in love and humility?

Simple

Accept that in Jesus your father in heaven loves you unconditionally now and forever more; not because of anything you've done or can do but because Jesus has already done everything. 

Genuine humility begins with submitting to God's Righteousness and Unconditional Love.