The Name above All Other Names

The English dictionary defines a name as “a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed or referred to”. It is common sense that the first thing we get acquainted with in a person that we are new to, is their name. This is because, the name of a person gives a brief history of the bearer of the name. Through the name of a person, we can know their religion, tribe or nationality, ancestry and more. Names are very significant in the society. It is impossible for one to be a member of a human society without a name.

The Rise and Fall of Samson

Samson was born when judges ruled Israel. This was before the era of Kings. Judges were men or women who ministered justice to the people. They attained their leadership position due to their wisdom or courage in difficult times.

Samson’s father’s name was Manoah. His mother’s name is not mentioned. According to the scriptures, Manoah’s wife was barren. An angel of God appeared to her and informed her that God had chosen her for the task of delivering a child who would later be a judge over Israel which at that time was a colony of Philistine.

During that time, there was suffering in Israel due to the oppression caused by their masters, the Philistines, which is the reason why God decided to raise Samson as a judge through whom Israel would be delivered from their yoke of slavery.

Meaning of the Cross

Without doubt the cross is the most revered symbol of Christianity. It has attracted both positive and negative sentiments across all cultures and societies. If one has to understand Christianity, he or she should understand the significance or the meaning of the cross. Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not, you can never escape the subject of the cross. The cross is the core of the Christian faith. If you and I are to grow in the love of God, which is the first commandment, then we should come to the full knowledge of the cross.

The significance of the Blood of Jesus

Even though the function of blood and how it circulates in the human body was discovered in 1615 by William Harvey, yet across the world, every nation has had mysteries attached to blood from ancient times. At least every culture has some kind of rite or ritual associated with blood, some of which are practiced to date.

There are those who argue that the Biblical aspect of the blood was borrowed from ancient Near East Semitic tribes, but that notion does not have a strong basis. The Bible being the most reliable and accurate ancient source of history₁, seems to have set in motion the universal reverential fear which emanates from the shedding of blood (Gen 4:10). From here also stems the universal dignity for human life.

The Meaning of Death

If there is anything that you and I are certain of, it is that at some point we will die. Whether we die of Corona virus infection, accident, war or of old age as most of us would desire, we certainly will die. As someone jested, “You will not come out of life alive”. Death is the most certain thing in this planet and as a result, I strongly suggest that you keep it in the front of your mind, because I know that we all have it in the back of our minds. My idea of keeping it in mind is not so that you have an abnormal fantasy or obsession about death or live in fear of dying, no, that will lead to depression. What I want you to take time and think about is, if you die, will that be the end of you? Will your death change who God is? Will your death alter the truth about who God is?

Love

Slender and curved 

Beautiful smile and glare 

Classic wear and smear 

Gracious glide and stride 

Admirable and amiable 

Beautiful! Lovely 

Tall dark and handsome 

Muscular and agile 

Designer suits and scent 

Owner of latest toys 

Stashed accounts 

Handsome, lovable

Time

Tick tock, Tick tock 

Persistently proceeds, 

The chime of time 

The precious of all, 

Earthly commodities 

Tick tock, Tick tock 

Today smiling optimistic toddler 

Tomorrow wailing nostalgic older 

For time is a revealer, 

Of wasted time

A Brief History of the Church of Christ

Before we begin this amazing journey, I lack the words to express how important history is to a people. Wayne E. King¹ said “humanity is a continuous process and without a past there is no future.” I concur with that statement. I also agree with Henry S. Commager² that “For a people to be without history, or to be ignorant of its history, is as for a person to be without memory”

Church history plays a very significant role in understanding what the church is or is supposed to be. Through church history you will be able to eliminate unnecessary traditions and practices from the church which are a hindrance to the fulfilment of the Great Commission and the mandate of Jesus Christ. It is a journey that I welcome you to take with me. Please note that this is not a detailed history of the church of Christ, I might have skipped some areas that you deem important, I did not do that intentionally, it is because of lack of enough time. Hence I ask you to bear with me.

A Brief History of The Temple

It is with utter pleasure that I take this opportunity to walk you through a journey of the history of the Temple. If you are influenced by a tradition that was established in the past, then the past should be clear to you, because, as George Santayana put it, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”¹ . Hence I welcome you to this journey of discovery.

The history of the temple can be traced back to the desire of God to dwell among his people. This goes back to Genesis when God would visit Adam and Eve in the cool of the day so he could hung out with them. Later sin created a rift which separated man from God and for many years God used specific chosen people to communicate his will to his people. Although God hid his face from his people, his desire to dwell with his people was never quenched. It is God who initiated the move to restore man to fellowship with Him.

The Passover and the Lord’s Table

Throughout  history, there is one denominator that cuts across all cultures and nations when it comes to communication, or passing on of information from one generation to the next, and that is symbols. A symbol is a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. Hence symbols are not in themselves the idea or the event but rather a representation of the idea or the event that they symbolize. All world religions have symbols which bear some sacred truths and Christianity and the church has its share of the same. Among the many symbols and sacred rituals in Christianity, I feel obliged today to write about the Passover and the Lord’s Table.

Your Guitar

Lord reach out and take,

Your guitar

Your stringed instrument in me,

From eternity fashioned

Play me like a guitar,

The melody of your eternal orchestra

The strings of my will tuned,

To follow the rhythm of your song

Let the nations wiggle,

At your song may the tribes jiggle

Play me like a guitar,

The melody of your eternal orchestra

God

You command Reverence
Of Sages in all ages

Your ways inspire adoration
Yet Scorners at you sneer

Peers at me jeer,
But I, in you trust.

~>Dunmo