"Flying Pastors"; that bad?

Hmm! Here I am again with my myriads of thoughts. Sometimes, it amazes me how myopic, self-centred, sanctimonious and short-memoried(if there's a word like that) we all can be! I can't say am exempted either but I think we all in the church need to kill the thoughts, attitudes and idiosyncracies (or should I say idiosynCRAZES?), pharisitic notions that we most often express among and between ourselves! Jesus said, by this shall men know that you are my disciples indeed; that you love one another! Amazing! We talk love, preach love but we easily condemn each other and tear down one another at the slightest provocation. We all want to be loved (be honest y'all) yet we are waiting for who'd be the first to reach out in love. At the slightest hint of misdemeanour, misunderstanding or misrepresentation of facts, our tongues start wagging and we tear one another down without remembering that the real enemy that needs defeat requires our concerted effort but unfortunately we've already been defeated within. Jesus said that any kingdom divided against itself cannot stand! Already that statement presupposes that there would be issues that will seek to bring a division within but the responsibility is on us kingdom people, to ensure we remain one and keep the main thing the main thing!! Now here goes my main reason for todays blog. I hear so much hue and cry about the private jets either given to or bought by some of our Nigerian Generals in the Kingdom. Please don't ask me if they were bought with genuine money or not because money is amorphous and indeterminate. Also don't ask me why they should accept gifts of such magnitude with its incumbent recurrent expenses in terms of maintenance, etc. Please don't even ask me about why they would use such gifts when there are thousands of poor people in their congregations who can't afford 3-square meals a day. I stand with Paul who says unto their master they stand or fall. Who am I to judge another man's servant? Besides, have I taken out the logsssssss in my own eye or do I think I have it all together and stand truly blameless before the King if not for the precious Blood of Christ? However, my interest is in the hypocrisy of the current critics and criticisms following the private jet gifts and my question is simple; everyone of us at our level do receive gifts at our level but we don't think the gifts are that magnanimous because they meet our needs at the time and we forget that if sold, the money can be given to the poor too!! That's simply a Judas spirit. Very insincere with ourselves don't you think? How many people within the Kingdom have received car gifts, weddings sponsored, children placed on scholarship, political ambitions sponsored, hospital bills paid, flight tickets paid for, gifts of houses, birthday bashes put together and sponsored by friends, house or office furnishing for free, all expenses paid holidays and you and I know the list is endless. We go for thanksgiving and tag our gifts God's blessings, share the testimony with every ear that's willing to listen and gladly hold on to our gift. Were the poor not around us then? Why didn't we return the gift afterall its still other people's money! Why did we accept gifts that we at the time of receipt couldn't afford but we believe its God's way of lifting us to our next level and making our lives easier! Judas was too quick to speak. When the woman with her Alabaster Box emptied its content on the one she perceived to be and knew was the Messiah, she was criticized. Jesus said; the poor you will ALWAYS have with you! People have broken their Alabaster Box on men they perceive to be sent by God to them and their generation and rather than key into the blessing received and raise a thanksgiving on their behalf, the Judases are raising a criticism! People of God, the enemy is really having a field day in the Church of God and we need to wake up. If an Imam gets a gift of a private jet its no news rather its Allah be praised but if a Pastor gets it; its they are thieves and robbers! Do the Pastors have everything right? No! Are there things I think could be done differently? Oh for sure! Do I think they deserve the gifts? Yes; because no one gives a gift except it proceeds from the heart. If certain hearts feel they deserve it then so be it! Besides, even if the people were cajoled into buying it, am sure it wasn't at gunpoint. Every man is a free moral agent and if deceived, cajoled or lured into such a venture they willing succumbed to be a part of the gift. So people of God let's love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He that loves not does not know God. Rejoice with them that rejoice yet mourn with those that mourn. Let's not forget the poor but let's not criticize those who seem to have more or are given more! Till next time! THE CHURCH IS MARCHING ON THE CHURCH IS MARCHING ON THE GATES OF HELL CANNOT PREVAIL THE CHURCH IS MARCHING ON! W: www.chinelodillimono.com E: bookings@chinelodillimono.com

LOST CHURCH IN A LOST WORLD (1)

There was a time when the Church though not as large had such an unquestionable and undoubtedly a spiritual impact on people and nations. The church at that time was highly persecuted yet church folks had undeniable convictions and deep spiritual encounters with the LORD that totally changed the course of the lives of the then believers. In addition to their convictions, men and women gave their lives fully for the gospel. Infact at that time were borne songs like 'I have decided to follow Jesus', 'Follow, follow I will follow Jesus' 'It is enough that Jesus died for me' and other deep heartfelt songs that God's people sang with passion. Being among those who got to meet the Lord at the height of the revival in the 1980s, I often wonder if the gospel we received that cut to the heart and brought about great repentance and decisions to lay all aside, forsake our sin and follow Jesus, is the same in the church today. Its not in our place to judge of course but salvation has fruit and Jesus says we need to produce fruits of repentance if we really have believed. It therefore goes to say that we need to see something to prove the effect of this gospel. The Master Himself declared that by their fruits you shall know them. Followers of Christ are KNOWN by their fruit not by their proffession nor confession! They are not perfect but being perfected and their profitting from the effects of the gospel is SEEN by all. The church was set up by Jesus to be the ground and pillar of truth. It was set up to be the lightbearer of this dark world. It was set up so that when those who are lost and without God look to the church they find direction, order, safety and hope in the church. Now the church has become a place for display of titles, status and quest for more and our insatiable appetites of course never having enough as our so called prayers are filled with ME, MYSELF and I requests. The then Church was a GOING Church and a DOING Church. Their quest was what the Lord will have them do, even at the expense of their lives. The Church today is babysitting, sleeping, complacent and totally oblivious. Compassion in the heart that drove men and women to their knees to ask God to move in the hearts of men is no longer or should I say minimally existent. Sadly enough is that there are countless 'prayer meetings/programs' going on and its been my question, how come there seems to be 'so much prayer', people cracking voices, risking their lives going for night vigils and prayer camps yet very little effect and few answers! Is God Baal? It is simply the evidence of a Lost Church in a Lost World! Just as the world is crying the Church which should be the house of succour and safety is equally crying; lost and uncertain. The Aluu4 that lost their lives in such savegery and in a gruesome manner is proof of the decadence that exists and the complacency in the Church. Its time we woke up to our heavenly call. Its time we rise up and make a difference by taking proactive steps to truly change our world. Its time to influence our world by breaking down our church walls and become God's people on a deliberate mission. Its a season for mission-minded people. Its time to live our purpose-BEING THE LIGHT in this dark world. Its time to live out the true convictions of our faith-Jesus is real and alive and can revolutionize our world if only His people will let Him!!! God bless See you next time! www.chinelodillimono.com

DRAWN SWORDS

For some reason of which I can't explain, I recently have decided to share my thoughts on varied issues as they come. So do bear with me and share yours as well and if possible make your comments. Sometime ago, a friend sent me a link on BB asking, "Could this be true of our brother?" "Which brother?" I asked. "Ah Ah! Pastor Chris Okotie! Haven't you heard of his second divorce?". Of course as at then I hadn't so what else than to pick my blackberry and open up the link. After reading a few articles and scanning through some of the sad insulting comments of many, my heart broke both for Nigeria as a nation and the Church in Nigeria as a whole. My heart bled at the soul-wrenching words from people including churchfolks thrown at a fellow human being (without mentioning the fact that he's God's servant because that will sure trigger some arsenal!!). Its amazing how we find it so easy to draw swords at each other once the chips are down without thinking and it seems it has become our new trade to finish the job the enemy started. We point accusing fingers at others whereas we have more pointing back at us. We even accuse others in areas we know if put in the same position we'd do same or probably worse! Reminds of the old church cliche- Don't be holier than thou! Now, please don't get me wrong because I am actually totally anti-divorce and am absolutely not in support that marriages breakdown. In fact I believe we all need to work stuff through because grass is NOT greener on the otherside. Most often it seems so but truth be told, it NEVER is! It only looks greener till you get there then we find its got some brown and some dead rotten grass as well! Probably worse than what you had!! I believe God is a matchmaker and every marriage has its silverline. The problem is that when we can't find the silverline we cave in and give up. Brings me to another side point. So much for how much we believe in prayer. We believe God can and advice others to pray when they are in the hotseat but when the enemy is in our own backyard it seems prayer can't just handle it. Hmph! What a laugh or should I say hypocrisy! No wonder someone once said the greatest actors are not in hollywood, nollywood, bollywood or the newest of them ghollywood but in the church! Do what I say and not what I do!!! This whole craze, raving and ranting that as a man of God he should be an example, he should show the way, he must have a problem and so on may be true, I don't know him nor have I ever met him before BUT my problem without trying to sound sanctimonious is the same as that of Jesus and my question is the same besides other thoughts! He who is without sin let him cast the first stone! Remember the woman CAUGHT in adultery who was brought to Jesus? Question is, where was the man? How come he wasn't brought for stoning too? It goes to show that even way back in Bible times the justice of man (not gender) has and still is lopsided! We condemn the known or obvious and pretend the unknown doesn't exist. Simply a clear case of the 11th Commandment-Thou shalt not be found!!! As long as my case is unknown to them then am fine and justified to crucify the one whose sin is now public news!! Its always so easy to draw swords and shout 'Crucify Him' yet its the same hypocrites who a while back were hailing 'Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' I wonder who was in attendance at his second wedding with all its pomp and pageantry. I sure know it wasn't a Buddhist or an Imam that joined them nor was it members of Jehovah witnesses nor Eckankar that sat in the congregation as witnesses!!! It was the Church!!! The question for everyone who's spoken a word against this man or any other whose issues have become public news, for everyone who's written a post on some social network, who's condemned him for his actions is, are you innocent? There is such a deceptive cloud over many hearts and minds and we need God to cleanse our hearts and teach us to live the scripture-He that thinks he stands TAKE HEED lest he falls and Let them that are strong and spiritual restore him that is weak! This is because we all have our faults and secret sins and mind you there is no big or small sin in the Kingdom. Lying is as big a sin as adultery, greed, hatred, malice, stealing and covetousness. If you fail in one you fail in ALL. What he's done is no different from those who are still married but their hearts are in anothers house! Its no different from those who have their wives or husbands at home and have a bb lover, email lover, facebook lover or out of town lover. Its no different from taking ANYTHING that's not yours be it money things etc. When you get involved in well packaged fraud its still sin. When you go against constituted authority, its sin! When you have an abortion it is sin! When you have an emotional affair, internet affair, sexual affair or any digital affair of this new age, its still a sin!!! SIN IS SIN! Everyone is meant to live in the light of scriptures. Permit me to say, God never sent Men or Women of God to be our examples. They are the vessels God uses to speak His mind!! Jesus is our PERFECT example. We follow Him, we can't go wrong! When His servant and messenger fails, we must empathize and pray for the church because when one part of the Body suffers EVERYBODY suffers. Be not deceived Christ is not divided!! What happens to one of us hurts ALL of us! I rest my case. See you next time and God bless

Prepared For The War?

I was in Israel on 'Pilgrimage' late 2011; I guess you can call me JP! Many claimed it was a spiritual journey but to as many as cared to listen, I told that if any Christian needs to go to Israel on a spiritual journey, their Christianity is vain. Every true believer in Christ began their spiritual journey the day they had an encounter with Christ! My journey to Israel was a Historical Journey to see the sites I have heard and read about in the scriptures. One of the highlights of the tour for me was the visit to the Wailing Wall. It was both interesting and sad for varied reasons. Here were people writing prayers on paper and stuffing into the walls. I almost did same then I realized that even in the old testament when Solomon had built and was dedicating the temple, the covenant between him and God was that whenever any Israelite prayed FACING the temple, God would hear. Now in the New Covenant the Bible made it clear that WE are the temple of God Himself so the Spirit of God in me helps me to pray in accordance to God's will. Jesus then said when teaching to pray 'When you pray say...'; when teaching on worship in John 4 said to the woman at the well 'A time cometh when we shall neither worship the Father on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...'. This goes to say that all that activity at the Wailing Wall is mere religion and holds no water except we pray and worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH! Having said that, my mind was cast back to the events at the Wailing Wall because of the recent Global events and a few questions and personal conclusions are being raised in my heart. I took my time to read once again Matt 24, Mk 13 and Lk 21 to set my heart at rest. Jesus spoke emphatically about the end of the age and its signs and three things are noted in His discourse A. Jesus said when we begin to see wars and hear about rumours of wars we should know as God's people that this is only the BEGINNING of the birth pangs B. He said (Matt24:21) that the DISTRESS would be unequalled from those face from the beginning of the world and never to be equalled again. C. He promised that the days had been CUT SHORT for the sake of the ELECT (by the way that is relative to the divine calendar) because had it not been NO ONE would survive. Question here is if the Bible is true on these matters and here we are; from global warming to global economic recess, august spring setting in motion a ripple effect in those oppressed nations, kidnapping, plane crashes, insecurity, political confusion, dashed hopes, blatant global pursuit of gay rights, scary rise in divorce statistics, premarital, extramarital and intermarital affairs, fear, addictions of every sort, poverty, sicknesses and fatal diseases in short hell is on the rampage; are we the Church aware of the spiritual signal? Could it be a sign that what Jesus spoke about is coming to pass? Is the Church prepared for the pending evil? In the midst of our sermons promising of the good and the great are we preparing a people ready for the imminent war? Are we preparing people who know that this war is not physical but spiritual or have we raised a people who have no trust in the efficacy of the spiritual during war times so resort to self-help means? Of course the Master told us that somewhere around all these events He would return. I will not bother about the Premillenial, Midmillenial or Postmillenial argument but I bother if the Church is ready for both the War and the Master's return! I figure especially in this time of distress that we as the people of God need to prepare and be prepared for what is certainly ahead. We will NOT be assigned a duty post then because you and I stand today Pastor, Politician, Banker, Doctor, Mechanic, Pilot, Market woman, Business Tychoon, Petty Trader or whatever; are already at your duty post! Let's not wait for the Bridegroom to come like the foolish virgins Jesus taught about before we go to get oil in our lamps. If you've run dry like many of us have at various times, go get yourself oil NOW and be prepared!! He NEVER said we will always see sunshine but He promised that as many as will run into His loving arms He will in no wise cast out. He said that a broken reed or a smothering flax he will not quench so let everyone who names the Name of Jesus get refilled with truth not psychology, self-help sermons, emotional doctrines, traditions of men that hold no weight in the realms of the spirit but with TRUTH that MAKES free and run efficiently this race set before us!!!! I rest my case! God bless and see you next time!!!! (c) Chinelo Dillimono

THE GIFT OF FRIENDS

I was going through the Book of Job and certain thoughts began to parade my mind about friendships and what a gift it could be especially when the right principles are applied. Every single one of us needs true friends. People we can rely on and who in turn can rely on us. Nevertheless I have discovered that there are various levels of friendships. There are those who know that at anytime 'T' they can rely on us. We are their friends but they are not ours in the same way and vice versa. That is to say that certain people could be a shoulder we rely on but they do not find us their place of succour in their time of need. They have others they run to when they are in dire need of a good friend. It doesn't mean we are not their friends but we may not be a friend to them in that light or to that extent. They mean no harm and they are still and always a friend for us. For instance as a Pastor and a Pastor's wife, often times my life seems to really be like that of a fish in a fishbowl. I am available as a friend, mother, confidant, acquaintance, counsellor, etc. giving a listening ear to many and truly do not mind it at all. Most times am a shoulder for many to cry on but it can be quite an uphill task locating within the myriads of people a true friend who can be there for me especially when I need a friend to rely on. You can't share everything with everyone can you?

 In other words, you can be friend to someone in their time of need and they are not necessarily a friend for your time of need and vice versa.  It doesn't mean you are not friends but its friendship at varied levels.  The third level of friendship I find is that there are those who are not only friends to you but you are friends to. That kind of symbiotic friendship can be deeper and really mutual.  I like how the children of these days put it BBF (Best Friends Forever)

That said, let's go back to Job. Here's a man in the midst of a trying moment in his life. In the depth of despair! Quite confused about his situation because he had applied all the principles in the book so he shouldn't, I mean by normal human calculations find himself in such a tight corner. Yet here he was!  Been there done that! I dare say that many in life try to give an explanation to many things that happen in their lives. I used to live on that highway! I thought I could explain everything. Of course there should be a logical explanation for everything shouldn't there? Sorry! I equally had to learn that there are things in life that cant be explained. So here's my thought on this when it comes to friendship. I needn't be the friend who always wants to explain the whys about your life's journey because sometimes they are absolutely unexplainable! He knows the way you take and He knows the path set before you. You sure can guess already that I don't need that kind of friend either.

Job had a crop of friends who couldn't care less but to be theologically right! They 'needed' to prove to him that they had an understanding of God and His laws (they sure were far from the truth)! He had friends who wouldn't be like Jesus who would rather go against the 'Far-to-sees' (Pharisees) and 'Sad-to-sees' (Sadducees) to reach out to the woman who had been bent over for 18years. He had friends who judged him in their hearts though they sat in 'mourning' with him! No wonder at the end of the story, the Mighty one who sees in secret, and before whom nothing is hidden tells those friends to go to Job for prayers! Hmmm! Our prayer today, I think should be Lord make me a 'Friendship Gift' to someone who needs me. Not to judge nor try to explain their situation but to just be there!

I hope this makes sense.  See you next time!

(c) Chinelo Dillimono 2015

My Thoughts About the DANA AIR Plane Crash

An unfortunate situation has occurred once again in our dear nation. Its still hurting me because I was seated at the airport in Abuja waiting for my 4.25pm flight when the passengers on that Dana Air plane to Lagos boarded. Ordinarily I would have taken Dana if I was heading to Lagos. Do I count myself fortunate? Not in the least because not one person on that flight deserved to die either! Everyone in Nigeria right now blames our government and the aviation minister as well as DANA Management but I however blame the following: 1. EVERY NIGERIAN who boarded the plane previously and never took a step to complain especially the last set that disembarked the plane and felt something was wrong. I heard someone an aeronautic engineer on board one of the Dana flights earlier spoke up when he saw leaking hydraulic but because the pilot assured that its ok and sure enough plane landed safely, he picked up his bags and went home mute. Someone may argue that there was a publication and the authorities should have taken it up but point is how many in authority do have or take d time to read the papers? 2ndly others who saw d publication, what did they do? 2. THE STATION MANAGER who knowing plane was bad still allowed it to fly because his Management insisted but point is, if he had refused won't he have lost his job? Question is how many Nigerians would have fought his cause even those he would have been trying to save from an imminent crash? Can u imagine d verbal abuse, threats and insult he would have suffered at the airport from those he would be 'saving'? 3. THE FEMALE DANA STAFF who granted an interview on Channels TV on monday morning because she knew and rather than speak up then is speaking now. Question is if she spoke earlier would she not have lost her job? Would her words as an insider and a concerned Nigerian be taken seriously? If she loses her job who would stand for her cause? 4. AVIATION MINISTER whose office and position demands by virtue of the sensitivity of that sector that any slight complaint be taken seriously as no less than 100lives are at stake every time a plane takes off from any Nigerian Airport. Why didn't she stop Dana from flying that plane until absolutely certain of its safety? Someone may argue that Nigerians always tend to peddle false info but isn't it better to be safe than sorry? Why didn't she tread on the path of safety and wait for Dana to prove beyond all reasonable doubts that their plane is safe? 2ndly if the information given in ThisDay was false why didn't the Aviation Minister act on safety grounds and allow Dana Air to refute the information? They still had the option of suing ThisDay if information was false. Question is if she had grounded the plane if n when she received the alert, can u imagine how many 'friends n stake holders' of DANA AIR that would have bombarded her lines with pleas, promises and even threats because they have a stake in the airline? 5. THE CHURCH in Nigeria whose fundamental and cardinal assignment is to teach people to love God and love our fellow man. How can we say we love God whom we cannot see when we don't love people whom we do see. Jesus taught a simple Golden principle, do unto others what you would have them do unto you but the operational principle is the Nigerian proverb-scratch my back and I will scratch yours! Honestly, having said all this, I also blame myself because I am equally a Nigerian with the Nigerian hang ups, mentality and attitude to things. Having asked these questions, the most pertinent question here is if I was in the shoes of any of the people mentioned would I have acted differently? Truth is I don't know now but I suppose my attitude would be same as the regular Nigerian who doesn't bother except it affects us personally! Would I want to lose my job for ingrates who wouldn't bother even after I have saved them at the expense of my job? NO! There's no guarantee and no where for recourse except in the law courts which of course we know their processes are expensive, long and cumbersome! So my family and all who count on me for their daily bread would have to suffer untold hardship because I want to 'save' lives of people who don't care so why should I bother? Would I want to lose face with some of our National Political and Money bigwigs who have a stake in the said Airline at the expense of my political network geared towards my 'political career' and future? NO! Would I want to be looked at as a trouble maker at the airport or even on the plane and given funny looks by fellow Nigerians for shouting 'wolf wolf' alone? NO! Would I want to 'waste' my hard earned money taking extra steps for a cause that am not sure may receive needed attention and of course no appreciation for my efforts and expenses? NO! Would I want to take up a cause against Dana with no assurance of security for my person or family in a country where people are killed at random and NOTHING is done about it? Absolutely NO! So the point is Every Nigerian and I mean EVERY single one of us is to be blamed for the Dana Air crash of June 3rd 2012 in Iju, Lagos! We are simply a people that don't CARE until it hits our door front! We are a true illustration of the Hausa proverb that every corpse is like firewood passing by until its a corpse from my house! Trust me when I say that every promise by the President and the Minister to investigate into the cause of the crash is simply an exercise in futility. Who is going to conduct the investigation? Isn't it Nigerians? The same fundamental problem will certainly show - NIGERIANS DON'T CARE when there is no stake in it for them. We are a FEARFUL, BIGMOUTHED people who talk a lot, criticize a lot, condemn every government effort yet we are the GOVERNMENT SABOTEURS ourselves, blame everybody else, and take no responsibility whatsoever for our actions! What is happening to the multitudes of persons lost in the recent bombing around the nation. Are the perpetrators GHOSTS? Don't they dwell among us? Do they reside in government house? Doesn't mean its not possible because even those in government are full of blame too. Certainly the perpertrators must be sponsored by some bourgeoise! Hmph! We are yet to have more misfortunes because we don't care. Bottom line is we ALL as a people must come to terms with our deep seated dysfunction-Lack of Care for the next person and begin to deal with ourselves then things like this can be avoided or at best loss of lives will be brought down to its barest minimum. We want a better Nigeria? I personally believe it will ONLY get better when we STOP shifting blames, become accountable individual, love Nigeria intensely, become patriotic in our thinking and actions and see NIGERIA as our individual and collective responsibility!! It will get better when Christians everywhere in this Nation begin to WALK the TALK, be the LIGHT and SALT and stop all the demon chasing but live the HIGHER LIFE indeed!!! We need to stop talking about the light but BE the light! Show we care! Show that the next person is so important. I rest my case fellow NIGERIANS! Or I daresay END OF PART I !!! God bless NIGERIA God bless our LEADERS God bless all our PEOPLE! (c) Chinelo Dillimono