Fr. Innocent Awulu, CSSp - Practical Christianity

WHEN FAVOUR SPEAKS!

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY!

The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, demonstrating the depth of his love and care. He knows each one by name, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. Jesus contrasts himself with the hired hand, who abandons the flock in times of danger, highlighting the difference between one who serves out of obligation and one who serves out of love.

As we consider Jesus' words, let us ask ourselves:

- Who are the "sheep" in our lives, those we are called to care for and protect?
- Are we willing to lay down our own interests and desires for their sake?
- Do we recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd in our lives, guiding us toward love, compassion, and service?

NB: THE SELFISH SELF PRESERVATION OF ANY SHEPHERD (PRIEST/PASTOR) AT THE EXPENSE OF ANY SHEEP (FAITHFUL) IS A GREAT BETRAYAL..

May we be inspired by Jesus' example, embracing the call to selfless love and devotion. May we become Good Shepherds to those around us, reflecting the love and care of our Heavenly Father.

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, help us to follow your example of selfless love and devotion. May we be Good Shepherds to those in our care, and may we always recognize your voice guiding us toward love and service. Amen.

NB: PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AND ALL MY PRIEST/PASTOR BROTHERS!

HAPPY GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY!!!

IN A WORLD WHERE HUMAN RELATIONSHIP IS BEING REDUCED TO A TRANSACTION OR BUSINESS... A KIND OF RELATIONSHIP THAT THINKS FIRST OF WHAT I WILL GAIN AND NOT HOW WE CAN MUTUALLY HELP EACH OTHER WHETHER RICH OR POOR. LOYALTY OR COMMITMENT TO THE OTHER AT THIS LEVEL IS BASED ON SOME MATERIAL COMPENSATION ONLY..

IN A WORLD AS SUCH, ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGE BEFORE CHRISTENDOM (CHRISTIANS) TODAY IS TO PROVE OR SHOW PRACTICALLY TO THE WORLD THAT TRUE LOVE IS POSSIBLE, THAT PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP IS POSSIBLE AND SELFLESSNESS IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IS TENABLE!
(1 John 4:20-21; Luke 6:32-36)

THE POWER OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION! Video from Innocent Awulu

THE CHURCH, PASTORS AND SOCIAL MEDIA!

AS IF IT IS THE SOCIAL MEDIA OR BLOGGERS THAT CONTROL SOME NIGERIAN PASTORS AND CHURCHES TODAY! ONCE ANY PASTOR ACT IN CERTAIN WAY AND THE BLOGGERS BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT IT, YOU SEE OTHERS IMMEDIATELY BEGINNING TO ADJUST AND ACT IN A WAY TO "PLEASE OR PACIFIY" THE BLOGGERS OR NETIZENS!

WHAT IS ACTUALLY MOTIVATING SOME PASTORS AND CHURCHES TODAY? THE TRUTH(THE TRUTH /THE HOLY SPIRIT) OR THE FLESH, FAME, POPULARITY, MONEY, ETC? IF IT IS THE TRUTH AND WE HAVE BEEN ACTING AND SPRAKING THE TRUTH, WE NEED NOT BE TRYING TO ADJUST OUR POSITIONS EACH TIME THERE IS A BACK LASH FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA SPACE! ONLY IN CHRISTENDOM IN NIGERIA TODAY YOU SHIFTS IN MORAL AND SPIRITUAL POSITIONS ON A DAILY BASIS, THE MUSLIMS FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT DO THAT..!

NB: Watch out now, the reigning things on the altars of many churches in days to come will be trying to SHOW that they do not entertain fake miracles in their churches....

TAMING THE CRAVINGS...
If your parents cannot foot the bill of any hair do conveniently, STOP IT! If your husband cannot conveniently foot the bill of any hair do, STOP IT! If you yourself have no money of your own to conveniently foot the bill of any hair do, STOP IT! THE SAME GOES FOR OTHER THINGS OF FASHION, GADGETS(Eg: PHONES), ETC. In short, any life stye you CANNOT conveniently and legitimatey finance, do not keep nor encourage it! Depending on others always to get these things outside those whose responsibility it is has brought about and bringing about many cases of INFIDELITY, PROSTITUTION/FORNICATION, STEALING, AND OTHER CRIMES IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY! Please let us all be content with what we have and live by our means!
HAPPY WEEKEND AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

SPECIAL MUSINGS FOR TODAY!
1. How easily impressionable Nigerians largely can be. No matter how corrupt you are, just do one "mischievous good action" and they FORGET all your past and are ready to crown you a saint! How gullible and easily deceived we can be as a people!

Listen, content without character at any level is a disaster waiting to happen !

2. Funny Nigerian Christians everywhere today. Most of the madness, the sources of immorality, indecency in dressing and posts on the social media are 99 % from "Christians"!

Go check any SHAMEFUL, RADICAL, TEMPTING POSTS on the social media today, almost ALL of them are from 'Christians' in Nigeria!

This is scary and calls for a rethink!
In Nigeria today, it would take EFCC to make "Christians' obey simple laws as DON'T ABUSE THE NAIRA!

3. Fear who no fear God and many of us Christians today in Nigeria have no single fear nor love for God.

All that matters to many of us is OUR HAPPINESS, and any other person can die and the laws of God rubbish!

What can a Nigerian Christian preach to or show to an unbelievver to motivate him or her apart from false grace, utopian prosperity and fake miracles when the essence is lost!..
Stay blessed brethren! (MANAGEMENT)

GATHERING TO HONOUR WHO?
BELOVED, HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW SOME CHRISTIAN GATHERINGS LIKE WORSHIP, MARRIAGES, FEASTS, BURIALS AND THE LIKES ARE BEING REDUCED TO "ENTERTAIMENT GROUNDS" LIKE ANY OTHER SOCIAL SECULAR GATHERINGS. MANY ARE TURNING OUT TO BECOME COMEDIANS, ENTERTAINERS, CONTENT CREATORS FOR PUBLIC FUN, VIBES AND "HAPPINESS" IN OUR GATHERINGS..

JUST DO ANYTHING WITH LITTLE OR NO REFERENCE TO SCRIPTURAL DICTATES NOR ANCIENT MORAL STANDARDS PROVIDED "PEOPLE CAN FEEL GOOD IN THEIR SKINS", LAUGH AND SHOUT APPEAEING OR PRETENDING TO BE HAPPY TEMPORARILY THEN IT IS OKAY!

CHANGING CHRISTIANITY TO PLEASE AND SUIT THE WAYS OF THE WORLD: THIS IS DANGEROUS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION!!!

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎 Margaret Doosuur Shom-Nunde, Amedu Catherine, Patricia Gokum Ezekiel

LE MONDE NE PEUT PAS FIXER LES NORMES !

De nos jours, avec l'aide des médias sociaux, nous découvrons que nous avons de nombreux coachs relationnels, pasteurs, influenceurs, conférenciers motivateurs, etc.

Certaines de ces personnes, à leurs diverses manières, tentent de définir qui est un homme dans son état naturel, qui est une femme dans sa nature adamique et leurs potentiels. Elles vont même jusqu'à REDÉFINIR presque toutes nos valeurs traditionnelles et chrétiennes.

Je leur "double ma casquette" et je n'ai pas de problèmes avec tout ça. Là où réside ma difficulté est la suivante : nous, chrétiens, semblons, dans une large mesure, vivre selon ces définitions et paramètres. Nous semblons suivre tout ce que quelqu'un se réveille pour y mettre et l'accepter avec peu ou pas de discernement. Si tel est le cas, quelle est l’essence de notre baptême ? Quelle est l’essence de notre profession de Jésus comme notre Seigneur et Sauveur personnel ? Que signifie notre nouvelle vie en Christ ici sur terre ? Quel est le rôle du Saint-Esprit en nous ?

Oui, la chair humaine est faible, mais la Bible nous dit : « Si quelqu'un s'attache au Christ, il est un être nouveau… » (2 Chorinthiens 5 : 17). Ainsi, si nous avons reçu l'Esprit du Christ en nous, nous devons donc manifester les fruits de l'Esprit et ne pas toujours céder aux normes de la chair ou de l'humain naturel et être capables d'un discernement simple (Cf. Galates 5 : 17). -24 ; 1 Jean 4 : 1)

Ainsi:
un vrai croyant PEUT apprivoiser les œuvres de la chair, il ou elle peut vivre au-dessus des tendances, des normes et des modes du monde, il ou elle peut facilement faire des sacrifices, abandonnant les PLAISIRS LÉGIMATS (fonds et vibrations) pour le bien du royaume. Il ou elle peut AIMER !

NB : UN CHRÉTIEN N'EST PAS UNE « PERSONNE ORDINAIRE » ET NE PEUT DONC PAS ÊTRE ASSOCIÉ AUX DÉFINITIONS D'HOMME OU DE FEMME PAR LES BLOGUEURS DES RÉSEAUX SOCIAUX D'AUJOURD'HUI (LE MONDE). C'EST POURQUOI NOS GOÛTS, NOS AIMÉS, NOS MANIÈRES, NOS PLAISIR, NOS MUSIQUES, NOS VÊTEMENTS, NOS ENVIES NE PEUVENT PAS ET NE DOIVENT PAS ÊTRE LES MÊMES QUE CELLES DU « MONDE »" !

EXEMPLE:
SI LE MONDE DIT QUE NOS JEUNES D'ÉGLISE NE PEUVENT PAS ÊTRE VIERGES, QUE PLUS DE FIDÉLITÉ DANS LES MARIAGES, QUE TOUS LES HOMMES SONT DES ORDRES, QUE L'ARGENT EST TOUT ET TOUT DANS LA VIE, QU'AUCUN CLERGÉ EST FIDÈLE, ETC. POURQUOI LES CHRÉTIENS DOIVENT-ILS LES JOINDRE POUR CROIRE CES ET MÊME SONT-ILS DES AMPLIFICATEURS DE TELLES HÉRÉSIES ET MENSONGES ?
OUI, NOUS, EN TANT QUE CHRÉTIENS, NE SOMMES PAS PARFAITS, MAIS NOUS CROYONS PAR LA GRÂCE DE DIEU QUE NOUS POUVONS VIVRE AU-DESSUS DU PÉCHÉ ET DES MILLIONS ESSAYENT RÉELLEMENT DE VIVRE UNE VIE SAINTE ET DÉCENTE (Cf. Romains 12 : 2 ; Siracide 2 : 1)

PRIÈRE:
QUE LE SEIGNEUR CONTINUE À BÉNISSER ET À SOUTENIR TOUS LES GENS DE BONNE VOLONTÉ. Malgré les nombreuses tentations dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, aidez-nous à nous relever chaque fois que nous tombons. GARDONS NOS YEUX CONCENTRÉS SUR LE CHRIST LE BUT ET NE LAISSONS JAMAIS LES PLAISIRS TEMPORAUX DE LA CHAIR NOUS DISTRAIRE. SURTOUT, PUISSEZ-VOUS ACCORDER À TOUS LES CHRÉTIENS LA GRACE DE CONTINUER À TENIR DANS CETTE COURSE CÉLESTE JUSQU'À LA FIN DE LEUR VIE, AMEN !

THE WORLD CANNOT SET THE STANDARDS!

Nowadays, with the help of social media, we now discover we have many relationship coaches, pastors, influencers, motivational speakers, etc.

Some of these persons in their various ways attempt to define who a man in his natural state is, who a woman in her adamic nature is and their potentials.. They even go to the extent of REDEFINING almost all our Traditional and Christian values.

I "dub my cap" for them and I do not have problems with all those. Where my difficulty lies is this: That we Christians to a large extent seem to live by these definitions and parameters. We seem to follow whatever anyone wakes up to put up there and accept them with little or no discernment. If that is the case, what is the essence of our baptism? What is the essence of our profession of Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior? What does our new life in Christ here on earth means? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in us?

Yes, the human flesh is weak but the Bible tells us "if anyone is joined to Christ, he or she is a new being...." (2 Chorinthians 5:17). Thus, if we have received the Spirit of Christ in us, we ought therefore to manifest the fruits of the Spirit and not yielding to the standards of the flesh or the natural human always and be capable of simpled discernment(Cf. Galatians 5: 17-24; 1 John 4:1)

Thus:
a true believer CAN tame the works of the flesh, he or she can live above the worldly trends, standards and fashions, he or she can easily make sacrifices, giving up LEGIMATE PLEASURES (fund and vibes) for the sake of the kingdom. He or she can LOVE!

NB: A CHRISTIAN IS NOT AN "ORDINARY PERSON" AND THUS CANNOT FALL INTO THE DEFINITIONS OF MAN OR WOMAN BY SOCIAL MEDIA BLOGGERS TODAY (THE WORLD).THAT IS WHY OUR TASTES, OUR LIKINGS, OUR WAYS, OUR FUNS, OUR MUSICS, OUR DRESSINGS, OUR CRAVINGS CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE SAME AS THAT OF THE "WORLD "!

EXAMPLE:
IF THE WORLD SAYS OUR CHURCH YOUNGS CANNOT BE VIRGINS, THAT NO MORE FIDELITY IN MARRIAGES, THAT ALL MEN ARE SCUM, THAT MONEY IS ALL AND ALL IN LIFE, THAT NO CLERGY IF FAITHFUL, ETC WHY MUST CHRISTIANS JOIN THEM TO BELIEVE THESE AND EVEN BE AMPLIFIERS OF SUCH HERESIES AND LIES?
YES, WE AS CHRISTIANS MAY NOT BE PERFECT, NONETHELESS WE BELIEVE BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE CAN LIVE ABOVE SIN AND MILLIONS ARE ACTUALLY TRYINGTO LIVE A HOLY AND DECENT LIFE(Cf. Romans 12:2; Sirach 2:1)

PRAYER:
MAY THE LORD CONTINUE TO BLESS AND UPHOLD ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL. DESPITE THE MANY TEMPTATIONS IN THE WORLD OF TODAY, HELP US TO RISE ANY TIME WE FALL. KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON CHRIST THE GOAL AND NEVER LET THE TEMPORAL PLEASURES OF THE FLESH DISTRACT US. ABOVE ALL, MAY YOU GRANT ALL CHRISTIANS THE GRACE TO CONTINUE TO HOLD FORTH IN THIS HEAVENLY RACE UNTIL THE END OF THEIR LIVES, AMEN!

2 Timothée 4 : 3-4
"Car le temps viendra où ils ne supporteront pas la saine doctrine; mais selon leurs propres convoitises, ils s'accumuleront des enseignants, ayant les oreilles qui les démangent; et ils détourneront leurs oreilles de la vérité et se tourneront vers les fables."

C’est là que nous en sommes aujourd’hui dans de nombreuses églises et autels, parmi de nombreuses sociétés et rassemblements chrétiens. Seuls le vrai discernement, la vérité et l’esprit persévérant libéreront ! Attention et prévenu bien-aimé !

2 Timothy 4:3-4
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

This is where we are now in many churches and altars, among many Christian societies and gatherings. Only true discernment, the truth and persevering spirit shall set one free! Beware and bewarned beloved!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!
"Happy Mother's Day to all amazing and distinguished mothers! Your selfless love, care, and guidance make a difference in the lives of those around you. May this day be a celebration of your strength, resilience, and devotion. You are appreciated, cherished, and loved. Enjoy your special day!"
FR. AWULU INNOCENT AROME, CSSp

THROW BACK TO MISSION THEN IN IBAJI KOGI STATE NIGERIA ON RIVER NIGER 2014. THE SLOGAN THEN WAS "NO JACKET, NO ENTERING MY SPEED BOAT"! WITH ME IN ONE OF THE PHOTOS ARE CORPERS SENT TO OUR NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ODOMOMOH AND AYAH PARISHES RESPECTIVELY...! IN 2024, SOME SUPER STARS ARE GOING ON THE BIG WATER WITHOUT JACKETS. WHAT AN IRONY OF LIFE! MAY THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES CONTINUE TO REST IN PEACE AND GOD'S CONSOLATION TO THE BEREAVED!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Nigeria has emerged victorious at the prestigious World Affairs Challenge (WAC) 2024 as the Christ the King College, Onitsha, which represented the country, secured the coveted global first-place position.

Congratulations 🍾🎈🎉🎊

EXCELLENT WEEKEND TO YOU ALL!!!

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE SHARE....THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

Hypocrisy/lies!
Fellow Nigerians, just watch out if this Jnr. Pope story turns out to be true. You will see ALL kinds of "fire brigade" approache and "insincere emergency laws and bans" here and there in the next few days just to be politically and "social medially" correct. After some weeks, we go back to square one...No consistency, no learning of lessons, no sincerity of purpose, little or no value attached to life...
If you want things to work and doing the right thing, they tag you "DEPUTY JESUS"!.................................

MY STORY:
I remember coming to work in Odomomoh village in Kogi State as a missionary after 7 years of mission in Central African Republic. This village is just by river Niger. The Parish has a speed boat but no effective life jackets.
In the Spirit of our International best practices that we preach and uphold, I had to invest resources and sent for good life jackets from Asaba in Delta state.

Mind you, the offertory collections of this church on Sunday Mass was then between 2000 to 3000 naira. We had to set our priorities right and with help from friends and well wishers we had to invest on protecting lives by getting those life jackets. The slogan then within my space was : NO LIFE JACKET NO ENTERING THE BOAT OR CANOE!

WHAT DID MANY PEOPLE SAY THEN?
Some said:
1. Wetin him wan show?
2. Why him dey waste money like this?
3. He is doing as if him be oyibo
4. Life jackets or not man go still
die
5. Him say no money but him get money for life jackets, etc
6. This Fada wicked o! If him life jackets finish, him no go allow you enter him speed boat..., etc

But you know what, all these things did not touch me! For me I believe by God's grace, the right thing must be done always and it does not matter if majority are doing the contrary. For me, prevention is better than cure! If you know me, one of my most favourite WORD is PROACTIVENESS! It takes discipline to be consistently doing what is right in season and out of season.

Go to the social media space today, many for the sake of gaining followers, popularity, making money, etc who have little or no sense of common safety will turn out to be SAFETY INSTRUCTORS today, many will lecture you on the significance of life jackets while not putting on any in the CANOE he is travelling in now, many will moralise the government, etc.

Go to our churches, mosques, public places today and see our attitude to safety precautions. If you are a priest, Imam, director and the like and you spend time, resources and money in putting things right to prevent future mishaps many Nigerians will accuse you of wasting money or embezzling it. They will prefer you "bribe" then with drinks, give them food to eat here and now at the expense of the essentials... Yes food is good and we must and do cater for the needy but we must not rob Peter to pay Paul nor be mischievous.

Safety, security is very expensive but necessary and we as Nigerians must prioritise these!

NB: IT BAFFLES ME WHEN YOU WITH LOW OR NO BUDGET MAKE SURE SURE CERTAIN BASIC AMENITIES ARE WORKING IN YOUR PLACE OF WORK AND THOSE WHO HAVE MILLIONS OF NAIRA BUDGETS THEY ARE LACKING IN MANY BASIC AMENITIES OF LIFE THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETTED FOR!

QUESTIONS /CONCERNS
1. Are your fire extinguishers working right now?
2. Are your life jackets OK, do you use one while on deep water?
3. Will you reject life jacket the next time you are given one to use?
4. Are your head lamps, break lights, breaks working?
5. When last did you go for medical check ups?
6. Have you on your own taken your car to the VIOs for inspection?
7. Are you want of those name calling those trying to do the right things always?
8. Are you one of those praising and supporting law breakers or wrong doers because they are rich, celebrities, influential, men of God, etc?
9. Do you respect traffic lights?
10. Do you respect and uphold little little rules and regulations of your church, school, office, mosque,etc?
10. Are you one of those who will always say it doesn't matter, but when the matter come cast, you will be one of the first to carry the matter for head?
11. Are you one of those whose love if for dead people or your concern is only when someone has entered complete trouble?
12. Are you still living any careless life in the name of fun, cruise, balling?

LET US TALK TO OURSELVES NOW, LET US CORRECT OURSELVES NOW, LET US ACCEPT REBUKES NOW, LET US ABOVE SHOW LOVE NOW AND NOT ALWAYS BE CRYING WHEN THE HEAD IS OFF! MAY GOD HELP US!

Above all, as we await the full story about this young promising Nigerian Hollywood actor, we commend him into God’s mercy!

*BE PROACTIVE, PREVENTION THEY SAY IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Fr. Awulu Innocent Arome, CSSp.

PLEASE LET US READ AND SHARE IF IT MAKES ANY SENSE TO YOU!