The real home-breaker

Joyce could vouch for her husband's fidelity (even when he gave excuses of busy and exacting office schedules as reasons for his late nights and frequent travels) until she received a text message on her phone. The message read : " You don't know me, but I just want to inform you that I'm no longer dating your husband, Steve. ... I now know that what we did was wrong. I'm sorry for any pain I may have caused you. Do forgive me".

When Steve returned from work that night, Joyce confronted him about the text message, but he denied it vehemently. Joyce would not stop there. She wanted to get to the bottom of the matter so she demanded to go through his phone logs, messages and contacts, raising her obviously exasperated voice at him. Irked by his wife's effrontery, Steve lost his cool, accused her of nagging and ingratitude, picked up a few of his clothes and stormed out of the house, not knowing she was 2 weeks pregnant with their second child.

He didn't return until 9 months later , when she had lost the baby after a Caesarean section due to pregnancy complications. They eventually reconciled, after paying a steep price for not settling their dispute  amicably as the Bible commands.   

1. The Bible says at Luke 17:1 , "It is impossible for offences not to come". However, we should not retaliate when offended (Romans 12: 17 - 19). Resolve your differences as outlined in Matthew 18:15-18. Forgive your offender, even if there is no apology (Ephesians 4:32 ; Psalm 103 : 10,12 ; Romans 5: 8-11 ; Matthew 18:35). Try to avoid offending others and seek their forgiveness if you have offended them already( Acts 24:16 ; Romans  14 ; Hebrews 12:14).

2. Steve's other woman did a lot of damage to his marriage with that text message. She was probably dumped and deliberately wanted to crash  his marriage in retaliation. Otherwise, why confess to the WIFE? A bitter ex can do more damage to a marriage than a current mistress who "hides her head". 

Some socio-economic tips

1. If circumstances do not allow you to help people , just make sure you don't harm them. Jesus Christ did not blame the 5 wise virgins for not rendering self-harming help to the foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-12).

2. There is a limit to human help (2 Kings 6:26-27 ; Psalm 49:7-9) . Even the biological parents of an only child will not be able to help him rear up his 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, etc. 

3. Don't distract people from facing their own battles. Neither try to profiteer from other people's problems. Don't dump your children's upkeep on someone who is childless or has lost a child. They will see you as the architect of their problems. Nowadays, most childless women battle fibroids, etc and can't afford to shoulder the upkeep of other people's children as well. 

4. Don't have more children than you can handle alone (in case of divorce or widowhood , and even to enjoy your marriage ) . Even God directly created only 2 people (and left the remaining production to us, via reproduction). Having many children even increases a woman's risk of developing placenta previa, cervical cancer, etc. There is a medium in all things. 

5. Extensive farming (along with attending public schools) can help large families to survive. Labour is a factor of production. That's how our forefathers survived in the olden days. 

6. Yorùbá people say :(a)"Òrìṣà jẹ́ n pé méjì obìnrin kò dénú"( Deep down, no woman wants her husband to have another wife) ; (b) "Ẹní bímọ fún'ni kúrò l'álè ẹni" (the mother of your child is more than a side chick or mistress). Therefore, don't let any woman see (or know) you as her rival, or your child as her stepchild. That's how not to be a home-breaker.

7. No cheating husband can commit maternity fraud against a woman. A woman can always tell her own child apart from a stepchild. That is nature's compensation for the labour pains. Remember this biological advantage when tempted to cheat back or fight other women over a man.

May God bless all our well-wishers and make the plans of the wicked against us backfire on them. Amen.

"Abẹ́ Ààbò" by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá

The play discusses how false prophets prey on gullible people. 

SCENE 1 : John and Maria are both devoted Christians. At the beginning of this scene, Maria rebukes Janet for singing worldly songs. John can be extreme at times. He blames Sunday's teachers for teaching them about Jesus' conversion of water to wine (John 2: 1-11), instead of the dangers of drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1). Jimoh is John's younger half-brother who has converted to Islam from their common Christian background. He lives with them and often twists John's words in jest, but John can't eject him from their father's house. He also smokes and drinks.

SCENE 2: Jeremiah (a prophet) and Solomon (his deputy) come to John's house to rent 2 rooms. They have bought a neighbouring plot of land to build their church and claim that God led them specifically to John's house. Jimoh objects to their tenancy. "In this 4-room house, you and your wife use 1 room, your children use the second, the third is the store and guest room, while I use the 4th room. When I get married, my wife will use the guest room. We are each entitled to 2 rooms. Don't cheat me". Nevertheless, John lets out the guest room and the prophet move in the next day. 

SCENE 3: A month later, John complains about Maria's watery soup. She reminds him that he hasn't increased the housekeeping money despite offering free meals to the prophet and his entourage. They also pay no rent. John says she should continue the free feeding and that he will put up with any inconvenience because of God. 

SCENE 4: Jeremiah complains to Michael (a more experienced false prophet) about inadequate offerings, an unfriendly neighbour,etc. Michael decides to take him to a herbalist the next day. Jeremiah's wife (Abigail) is in Ilesa and he wants to pretend to be single and make Janet his second wife. One of Jeremiah's church members has bribed him to select his (the member's) choice on the list of suitors his daughter will bring. The daughter is unhappy and Jeremiah consoles her that prayer may reverse the situation. He hopes to lure her to his bed. 

SCENE 5: While the prophets are with the herbalist, Jimoh watches them from the window and overhears their conversation. Jimoh enters the herbalist's house after their exit. They both discuss the hypocrisy of some prophets . Jeremiah and Michael have obtained crowd-pulling, self-defence, drop-dead and womanising charms.   

SCENE 6: Oluwole (Janet's fiance) tells Jimoh about her reduced interest in him. Jimoh reveals she is now very close to the prophet. They plot to catch him red-handed and report him to John. They see Janet and Jeremiah coming from church and decide to hide in Jimoh's room. Jeremiah plays with Janet's hair before trying to drag her by force into his room. At this point, Jimoh and Oluwole come out and beat Jeremiah. When John arrives, Jeremiah denies the seduction attempt and Janet supports him. Jimoh calls Jeremiah a "prophet with charms", in an aside.

SCENE 7: Michael visits Jeremiah and promises to get him a charm that will make people forget his misdeeds. Jeremiah says Maria has come to him to solve her secondary infertility problem and he has invited her for a 3-day spiritual retreat (Abẹ́ ààbò) in the church's uncompleted building. Jimoh overhears this before he and Oluwole enter the house. They sing mocking songs in Jeremiah's hearing . For example, they use the tune of "Christian, seek not yet repose" to sing "Wòlíì, jọ̀ọ́ lọ ọ fẹ́'bìnrin. Máṣe gb'aya aláya. Bí o kò bá ṣọ́ra rẹ, wà á j'ọrẹ́" (Prophet, go and get married. Don't snatch another man's wife. If you don't caution yourself, we will beat you). They also call him Prophet "Toromáyà" (cling to breast). 　

SCENE 8: After a church service , Jeremiah tells 3 women "under spiritual retreat" to wait behind. Maria is to be prayed for that same night, Abigail the next night and Rachel the last night of the 3-day prayer session. While praying for Maria, he uncovers and plays with her hair and later caresses her shoulders and her back. Jimoh and Oluwole watch them from a window behind them. John later joins them in their watch. As she rebuffs Jeremiah's advances, he points out that John may be the infertile one and that she should try him (Jeremiah) for a change. Maria refuses, especially since she already has 2 children. When he tries to undress her by force, the men come out of hiding and start beating him. When he takes out his drop-dead charm (ońdè), they run back. He manages to take the offering basket before running away. At last, John's eyes are opened to the realities of life. 

¤

DID YOU NOTICE THESE THINGS ABOUT JESUS' BIRTH?

 

1. The genealogies of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:1-16 & Luke 3: 23-38 diverged from David to Jesus Christ. One passed through Solomon (Mt 1:6) and the other through Nathan (Luke 3:31). Both Solomon & Nathan were David's sons by Bathsheba (1 Chronicles 3:5). Joseph (Jesus' stepfather) has 2 "fathers", Jacob & Heli (mentioned at Matthew 1:16 & Luke 3:23 respectively). The "fathers" have different ancestors all the way to David, & therefore can't be the same person. One of them must be Joseph's FATHER-in-law (or Mary's father).

2. Both Mary & Joseph were from the tribe of Judah. Though they were based in Nazareth, both had to travel to Bethlehem to "register in their own city" (Luke 1: 26,27 & 3: 1-5). Jesus had to be both biologically (through Mary) & socially (or patrilinearly, through Joseph) from Judah (Micah 5:2).

3. There were 2 towns named Bethlehem in Israel then. One was in the tribe of Judah (Ruth 1:1) in Judea (Matthew 2:1), while the other was in the tribe of Zebulun (Joshua 19:10-16) in Galilee (Matthew 4:15). That's why Micah 5:2 was specific. 

4. On the 40th day of his birth, Jesus' parents offered a "poor man's offering" of 2 turtledoves (Leviticus 12: 6-8; Luke 2 : 21-24). This is well before the astrologers came with their costly gifts.  

5. Jesus was almost 2 years old when the astrologers came from the East. Shortly after they left, Jesus' parents had to flee to Egypt with him. Note that his just-6-months-older cousin , John the Baptizer, (who was also in Judea) (Luke 1: 36-40) escaped the massacre of "boys aged 2 years & under" (Matthew 2:16) without having to relocate. There must have been official birth (& death) registration records to guide the soldiers against the desperate mothers' understandable lies. 

6. The star did not lead the astrologers to Jesus in Bethlehem directly, but first took them to murderous Herod (who would have killed Jesus, but for God's intervention) in Jerusalem. Note that the angels and the shepherds did not tell Herod about Jesus earlier. Satan must have used the star to endanger Jesus. 

7. There are 2 other persons named Jesus in the Bible apart from Jesus Christ (Luke 3:29 ; Colossians 4:11). Therefore, it is not a sin to name your son Jesus (as long as you don't call him MESSIAH or CHRIST). 

8. Mary was not sinless ; she did purification after childbirth like any other Jewish woman (Leviticus 12: 6-8; Luke 2 : 21-24 ; Romans 3:23). It was the Holy Spirit that shielded Jesus from contamination in the womb (Luke 1:35). 

9. Zechariah's doubting of Angel Gabriel's message (despite the precedent of Abraham and Sarah) led to his being made dumb for some time. Mary's doubt was understandable because no virgin had ever given birth without sex before. Hence, the angel patiently explained things to her. 

10. Mary wasn't a virgin for life. After giving birth to Jesus, she had 4 sons & at least 2 daughters for Joseph (Matthew 1:25 & 13: 53-56).

Mamser songs for children

1. STAND UP FOR NIGERIA. 

(a) I will love Nigeria always always (2x) . 

I'll never give or take a bribe. 

Working hard to give my best, I'll make Nigeria great.

 

(b) For the love of money is the root of all evil (2x), 

But honesty and purity will bring Nigeria honour

and her people shall be great. 

(c) If you love Nigeria, stand up, stand up (2x). 

Through loyalty and discipline, 

We'll set Nigeria on the rock of righteousness today, today. 

................

2. LITTLE ONES 

I am a little one. 

Special and dear I am , you know I am. 

Though I am little now,

 I want the world to know how I feel.          

Oh the little ones are the only hope for tomorrow.

 What you make of us you have made the world of tomorrow. 

Show the little ones what is right to do and the way to go. 

Give us a chance. 

Take care of little ones. 

(*Sing the whole song twice and then "oh the little ones..." afterwards).

................

3. I PLEDGE TO MY COUNTRY.

I pledge to my country, Nigeria, 

To be faithful, loyal and honest, 

To serve her with all my strength. 

I pledge to defend her unity 

And uphold her honour and glory.

 So help me, o God.

CALL & RESPONSE (2x): I will work.

I will work for her honour and unity, 

for this is my pledge to Nigeria. 

So help me, o God. 

....................

4. I MUST BEGIN.  

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to do the good things I expect. 

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to show the good example.

I can say to someone that I meet,

 "You first my brother. 

How do you do? 

How can I help you? 

Lean on me".

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to do the good things I expect. 

No one but I myself. 

I must begin to show the good example.

................

5. DRUG IS A DEVIL

Drug is a devil. 

It only destroys. 

It takes away your sense, then makes you mad and useless. 

Drug turns your head, 

keeps you lonely and scared. Never touch a drug; don't go near.

Don't take a drug ; 

don't give a drug. 

Drug is a devil. 

Drug is a killer. 

We're the nation's youth. Now we know the truth. Never touch a drug; 

don't go near!

................

 6. LET'S BUILD A NATION 

(a) Talking, complaining,

 Accusing and blaming. 

They never solve any problem. 

They only worsen the problem. 

Change your attitude now. 

If they are stealing,

destroying and cheating, You do not have to join them.

You'll do well to expose them. 

Change your attitude now.

CHORUS (2X) : Let's build a nation,

Not tear it down. 

We've got the vision.

We can make Nigeria shine. 

(b) We should be loving 

And caring and serving

Our dear and only country,

Playing our role in history.

Change your attitude now.

We must prepare

For our children the future.

They will be glad and bless us.

The God of Heaven will help us.

Change your attitude now.

(CHORUS, 4 TIMES)

Change your attitude now (3X).

................

7. LAND OF BEAUTY, NIGERIA.

(a) Land of beauty, Nigeria.

Land of plenty, Nigeria.

Sunshine and rain,

Highland and plain.

Pride of Africa, Nigeria.

(b) God has bless'd you , Nigeria.

And we love you, Nigeria.

Wisdom and wealth,

Knowledge and strength,

A mighty nation, Nigeria.

CALL : Land of beauty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of plenty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your brother.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your sister.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : We want peace in 

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Unity in  

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : There's enough in

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : For a happy

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of beauty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Land of plenty

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your brother.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Love your sister.

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : We want peace in 

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : Unity in  

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : There's enough in

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

CALL : For a happy

RESPONSE: Nigeria.

Sunshine and rain,

Highland and plain.

Pride of Africa, Nigeria.

................

8. HURRAY NIGERIA!

It's time to honour Nigeria.

Hoist the flag of glory.

Sing a song of triumph.

Sound the drums of victory.

Shout! Hurray (2X).

Hurray Nigeria! 

INTERLUDE: The land is good,

The people great.

This we can show.

The nations know o o o.

It's time to honour Nigeria.

Hoist the flag of glory.

Sing a song of triumph.

Sound the drums of victory.

Shout! Hurray (2X).

Hurray Nigeria! 

Hur-ray Ni-ge-ria!

..................................

(All songs by Ori Okoroh. Tunes transcribed by Okechukwu Ndubuisi and Emmanuel Tettey. Printed by Integrated Press Ltd)