Christians Protesting.

In light of the recent Occupy Nigeria protests, and discussions last Fall regarding mobilizing people to conduct silent prayer meetings in front of abortion clinics, (when the clinics are closed), (Bound4Life), I want to know what you all think about Christians protesting and silently seiging.

To give you an idea of where some people have fallen in the discussions, I'll provide you with a brief outline:

On the one hand, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.  Protests typically have a negative connotation. Thoughts of rioting come to mind, when protests get out of control, which they have the tendency to do, as they are emotionally driven.

Regarding protesting, some believe our energy can be channeled to a more effective means of affecting change.  Firstly, we can "protest" to our just Judge, Our Father in Heaven.  We could intercede from a room, tucked away from the public, where we are not visible and God will still hear and can answer our prayers. Additionally, one person can pray for something to happen and it could happen.  Lastly, depending on your skills and giftings, in addition to prayer, you can do other things. ie educating, writing etc.

On the other hand, we are commissioned to go out into the world and be bold, spreading the gospel and truth.  Protesting and seiging certainly make statements to the public. Regarding seiging specifically, the prayer meeting makes a statement to the public while warring in the Spirit on behalf of others.  Furthermore, there is something more powerful, more impacting, when praying with others.  Notwithstanding, the importance and presence of God while connecting with God on your own, in your secret place.  However,when believers come together and join their faith, God is in their midst and the presence of God is felt.

I want to know what you think. So, what are your thoughts about Christians protesting? Share what you know about this topic, based on your own revelation or teachings you have received.

Thanks!

Unashamed 1 1 6

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16

I went to the 116 Unashamed concert yesterday night in Chicago at the Moody Bible Institute (my grandma’s alma mater heeyy).

To sum up the concert --> Off. The. Chain.

The group I went with (African Christian Fellowship, Verbill Punishment COL, Spoken Life Project and friends) had front row seats after waiting in line for hours. And I happily joined them during their last hour of waiting. :-) It was worth it! Shout out to Jerry and Preston for getting the tickets before the show sold out in October!

While we were waiting in line and we had a couple Christ cyphas and made some new friends “Give the Lord Praise, Give the Lord Praise Hey!”

The doors finally opened and people rushed the auditorium. An auditorium full of believers of every race Romans 1:16’in it. The attendees were so diverse, but we were color blind. It was also a mini reunion, you just run into different people you grew up with, or went to school with.

And just as we were about to get the program started, Satan busted the generator! The devil is such a liar. {but why?} Can we just pray for him? I’ve seriously been thinking about that; that would solve everything. Anyways, everyone stopped taking pictures, catching up, etc. and just started praying. In 10-15 minutes God handled that little issue and we were ready to get the party started.

And it begins; there we were front and center, in spitting distance. Everyone [EVERYONE!] was so on fire. All the ministers (Pro, Tedashi, Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, Lecrae, DJ Official, the drummer, the spoken word artist/missionary - Nehemiah?) had great energy and stage presence. We were on our feet from beginning to end, dancing, and singing, praising and worshiping, with our pride on low and our faith on HIGH, L’s in the sky, listening to this Jesus Muzik! If only church could be like that everyday! I can’t even imagine what heaven will be like. I have never had that much fun at a concert. This definitely tops the list of events I’ve been to in life. That’s because it was not just a gathering of people having a good time. It had a message.

We have to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in us. The moment we received our salvation, we joined the winning camp. However, Satan was crouching at our door, at that very instant, no one is exempt. But we must rule over it. Nevertheless, we’re all missionaries, we need to not be ashamed of the gospel when we’re out in the world! Unashamed!

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1:6

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it! Genesis 4:7

This one goes down in the books. I’m so on high, {Faith High} I can’t wait for the next opportunity to do that at onething next month.

One thing I really appreciated is that the ministers made sure to make known that this singing, dancing, praising, worshiping was not about them. “I always pray that Lord, You would John 3:30 your boy!” – Lecrae. That He may increase and I may decrease. {Listen to the Background song below}

Some of my 3 snaps moments:

• They’re trying to save whales and kill babies. {come on!}
• Even on our best day we are still filthy rags.{whoa! So true. chew on that.}
• When I get backstage, I’m a drink a COLD bottle of water, when I get home, I’m a take a HOT shower. No one wants lukewarm water. (Revelation 3:16 - or you will get Spit out!!) {THIS!}
• We’re all missionaries, we don’t necessarily need to go overseas. We need the missional mindset everyday. {<-----Say that!!}
• [lights off, total silence] If we didn’t get the generator fixed, this room would have been like this. . . You know what, the world outside of this auditorium is dark like this. {wooo message!}

As much as I loved that utopia feeling: being around hundreds of believers just praising the Lord in a beautiful world that the Lord intended, The world is dark and ugly.

What are we doing about it?

As children of the light, we need to infect and brighten this dark world daily. Talk is cheap. Yet, talk without actions will be very expensive. Because everyone owes a huge debt to our Maker! Some of us have realized that it’s been paid off. {count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 - so go ahead an bury me!!} Yet many people don't understand that yet. If we’re just talking about it amongst ourselves and not getting other people to sign up then their blood is on our hands.

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood. Ezekiel 33:6

• I wonder how many of my facebook-friends are not Christian. 
• I wonder how many of my friend-friends are not Christian. 
• I wonder how many people I know and see on a daily basis, do not have Heaven as their intended final destination right now. 
• I wonder if more people will be in heaven or in hell and what are we doing about that ratio. 
• More importantly, where do we fit in the equation? 

Time to stop wondering!

America, Chicago, our neighborhoods are overdue for a revival! I pray that every Christian, myself included, will fearlessly profess His name everywhere we go.

Pray  . . . that whenever [we] speak, words may be given [to us] so that [we] will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19

Another shout out to Moody Bible Institute and Ashanti Pettaway & team for putting this event together.

Okay I’m still so on fire from the whole weekend! I’m so glad I decided to be spontaneous and take that half-day trip up to Chicago for it. Cheers to many more times like this! *cheers*

Why? Why Not!

so earlier today an exchange in my Workplace Dispute Resolution class went like this:

Professor: Why? [to student who answers affirmatively and so confidently]

Student: Why not?

O_O . . . What a cop out answer I thought.  I mean we are in school to learn, obviously the Professor is trying to get at a point. (so sad that the words "well" and "obviously" still remind me of the bed intruder interview, with the neck roll anywho) Needless to say, I wasn't too fond of the answer in the classroom setting, at the time. However, "Why Not?" summarized my portion of an unexpected but welcomed conversation I had right before that class with a new fried.

So first, God will send people to you. We just have to be ready. I met my friend earlier in the semester, she just came up to me, politely bold, right after class one day. Apparently she thought I took good notes -- which I guess I do (could), but when people are relying on your notes you tend to "multi-task" less, so in turn that's helping me to excel in this class.

A little backdrop and setting: On Mondays, I usually have a 3 hour gap in my day and have to decide where is the most efficient and effective place to relocate to; my two Monday classes are in the same room. Just as I was thinking to myself where should I go that has a clean microwave, for my lunch, (I very much dislike -Naija grammar, a dirty microwave - gross) I heard the good news: the class that is usually in that classroom during my break was canceled today.  So I decided to stay there and just as the last student trickled out, I began to play my music with no headphones (freedom!). After about 2.5 hours in solitude, in walks my new friend, arriving early for our WDR class. We made our small talk and greetings and eventually she comments on the music I was watching/listening to "that's beautiful" she says (it really is, Jon Thurlow is anointed! -check up on him) and we went from there . . . 

Second, God will give you the right words to say and the right time to say them. We just have to be prepared, to an extent.


In the beginning, God created = my faith. (that's all I really need, but there's more)

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (there's still more)

He authored the script to every single day of my life before my life was even alive. (it just goes on and on and on)


Love God Why? Why Not?!  . . .  Let me tell you about what He's done and what He does . . . (It's all about Him!) so Why Not?

Basically, that  ^^ came out in our discussion, (and the Jesus part; the kicker) which were some things I was thinking about recently in relation to atheists and near-future plans (it's related somehow, I'll connect it back in another post). My (Chicago) church's theme is currently focused on evangelizing. Mainly, someone cared enough to share the gospel with me, and just the same, someone(s) need me to share the good news with them. Why not?

This was probably one of the easiest opportunities to openly witness and it was so unforced and accepted. She just kept hitting me with another innocent knowledge-seeking question. What if I turned off the music as soon as she entered? (because I really almost did, but it wasn't loud so I left it playing) What if I decided to plug in my headphones to tune the people out that would soon trickle in for class? (these what ifs were very much a possibility especially when you've been caught near a conversation you could have done without overhearing, about so and so's weekend activities and randomness o_0)

What a missed opportunity that would've been, I've already missed some and I don't want to miss anymore. Now I just have to bring her to a church with me and/or find a Chinese church to take her to before I leave Champaign in 8 weeks! Time is flying . . .

God is good so Why not?