₦airaland Forum

Fellowship

Having fellowship is a wonderful thing; but then, do we take time to remember the meaning of the word? Although many people use the word differently, let's take some time to meditate on the wonderful gift of our fellowship with God this weekend. I'm sure several will come back to share some blessing of how it enriched their walk with the Lord. For now, let me leave us a scripture that has blessed me on this subject:

[center]1 John 1:3

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us:
and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.[/center]

Many blessings.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
@Analytical, thank you for your prayers and encouragement in the thread where I shared my testimony. I didn't ignore you, and that's why I felt an acknowledgement would be just in place here. God bless you for your prayers, which continue to bear seasonal fruit. May God continue to enrich you in His grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hallo all,

I think that some people are making a very fundamental mistake when they make inputs into discussions of this nature. Let's mind the topic again:

               "Should Worldviews And Religions Be Respected And Protected?"

We all know that atheism is a worldview: there's no gainsaying or denying the fact. If we are not careful to read the topic and assume that "worldviews" should not be respected or protected, then certainly it means that atheism should not be respected or even protected.

That being the case, why are [b]a[/b]theists so passionate to push their own agenda and establish unions, hold conferences, incorporate institutions and lobby for [b]a[/b]theism to be taught in British schools?!? Surely, as a worldview, atheism has nothing to be respected for, nor should its adherents/proponents be concerned about its values anyway.

You see, the problem that confronts has always been a narrowing and reductionist mentality that often betray the ideas of many people. While some may think it is "alright" to castigate other worldviews with ultimate disrespect, they often fail to realize that the topic also focuses on and includes their own worldviews as well! It may be easy to pick on other worldviews and pressume that the rational thing to do is disrespect them one and all! How often we fail to understand that such an attitude does not portray rational thought or integrity in human experiences.

Certainly, we can examine and evaluate the worldviews and convictions of people other than our own: that is not the same thing as "disrespecting" them. Intelligence is not the same thing as belligerence towards publicly affecting issues. There are political opinions, religious persuasions, economic policies, cultural interpretations, and social transactions that are not based on balanced and egalitarian principles. We all know that already. So, what's the problem? Simply this: we often tend to mention extremisms as if they apply to the general situation - and hence derive this attitude that "worldviews and religions be Dis[/b]respected and [b]un[/b]protected". [b]WHY do we often become so polarized and often forget issues like this?

For those who feel that "worldviews" should be this[/b]respected, please lead by example and categorically demonize [b]your own worldview first before seeking to point at others! Get the feel for your own first and foremost before calling for a sweeping tenet at others! Failing to do so is hypocrisy and cowardice. I don't mean to be rude to anyone, but please think carefully before making statements that leave huge gaps in the fabric of intellectual discourses.

Cheers.

Chimechefu:
if u think books are not relevant and u know and understand all when u read d bible, thank God for you.

Guys, please let's not begin another argument. I don't think that Gamine was generalizing, so it is not quite appropriate to assume that she was saying that "books are not relevant". I think it is important that we allow people to begin with the Word, and then as the Holy Spirit guides them, they will ultimately be able to seek out further help in understanding issues in our faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Bible says: "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" [Php. 3:16].

Hi people,

It's another great day and we can all rejoice for it.

Nimshi:
Well, since these are testimonies, those who have them will post them at their own times, when they are ready.

@Nimshi, you right and I agree. That is precisely what they said, reminding me that when the idea to share my testimony was first mooted, I had declined initially until I felt the time was ripe. So, I'll just keep them all in my prayers and wait for them to feel free to share their own experiences.


                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[quote author=plus_Queen link=topic=176491.msg2860639#msg2860639 date=1222483984]Pilgrim keep sharing the word in the e-mails with them.
God is doing something wonderful through this
You know you can always reach me.[/quote]@plus_Queen, I knew I could always count on you. Thank you for sharing by email yesterday - that was great! I'll keep in touch with all 'em by whatever media - email, YIM and texts messages (yes, I got Seifa'a number and promised to be discreet with it - we're sharing some very profound issues that have opened my eyes as well). Please keep them all and us in our prayers. God bless you.


                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

affee:
Pilgrim you were saved for a reason and I want to believe that you have been called to preach the Gospel to the muslim community.

@affee, thank you for that encouragement. In the past I've always been shy of doing that, usually often instead engaging Muslims in debates to "prove" one fallcy or the other. But from the events since the last 48 hours, there's been so much that seem to be directing my thinking towards sharing with Muslim (and other) friends. God bless you for your care and love.


                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chimechefu:
@reindeer, ur are indeed welcome to the family of love, but i urge you to allow him 2 reveal Himself wholly via the HOLY GHOST 2 U. Study and meditate on the 4 gospels, i.e Matt, Mark, Luke,John and also, acts, . . .
@ All of us that are in the TRUTH, please, pray 4 us, 4 me, for you, and 4 us.

@Chimechefu, that was quite warm, and thank you for your encouragements to reindeer. Blessings and keep praying and rejoicing in His grace.


                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gamine:
Please don't introduce any book to the guy that isnt the Bible.

@Gamine, missed you the last few days - so busy to have popped in the relevant threads and say a hello to you. Great to see you're doing well. I agree with you that people should be careful what they read: I speak from experience. Before my conversion, some well-meaning friends gave some good books to read on the subject of the Holy Spirit (as our tenet in Islam was quite different and teaches that angel Gabriel [Jibril] was the "holy spirit". Because I was not yet mature in my thinking, I was not any wiser. I believe that when someone is truly saved, the Lord Jesus is able to help that person grow in the faith. The Word (Bible) is faithful and God has always used that as the sure food for the spirit of man. God bless you.

[quote author=plus_Queen link=topic=176491.msg2860480#msg2860480 date=1222478014]I wish those individuals could have the courage to post it here themselves.[/quote]I have begged, and begged, and begged them to sign into the Forum and post their testimonies themselves, if for nothing, so that people on Nairaland will see for themselves that I was not making fictitious claims about any emails. They simply declined to do so.

All the same, I am still begging some of them, even though they are still declining. Everyone has a perculiar view on the realities of life and what they say Jesus did for them. The one thing that those two ladies (remember?) have advised me is that I should not even attempt to engage in any argument or debates with anyone. They hated it when I wasted time doing so; and reading my testimony proved to be more helpful to them. I see their point, and I would refrain from entering into any arguments with our dear Muslim friends.

Let Christ be glorified - for He is the One who is stirring the hearts of people and ultimately saving and blessing them. Here, pilgrim.1 does not matter and must decrease - and Jesus Christ must increase, for He is Lord indeed.

Bless you.

reindeer:
Thanks all
I'm sure i stil need more prayers
some of the things i said about jesus i now regret and hope that he forgives me everything.
At least i sleep easy now and know that if i should die this minute, it wont be a loss to me, at least ill get to see him face to face,i'D really love that.

You will always be in my prayers. The Lord Jesus will perfect His love in your life.

[quote author=plus_Queen link=topic=176491.msg2860353#msg2860353 date=1222473459]Eargerly awaiting it !
Jesus bu eze
Jesus is king[/quote]I've sent it. Could you open the file I attached?

@plus_Queen,

I'm going to send you an email soon - I want you to see something for yourself. God bless you.

@all,

Thank you for your prayers. Where do I start now? Things have moved on very quickly in the last 24 hours! But I still feel a little dazed from the effect my testimony has had on so many people, not least our dear reindeer!


@reindeer,
What can I say? I've learnt to not preach down at people who are just coming to know the peace and love that Jesus Christ gives - I can trust Him to reveal Himself more and more to you beyond what my testimony did. I praise Him for all His grace, and even up until now, I am still amazed that a former blasphemer against His name, His people, His Church, and His Word could be forgiven and powerfully saved. Like I said, I did a lot of research in search of the "truth". However, it was not theology or philosophy that settled it for me. . . rather, it was His mercy and grace powerfully brought to my heart. True, you will still have questions - I still do, and everyone has them. But questioning realities is not the same thing as experiencing those realities. May God bless and make you strong and fulfilled in His grace. Much love in Christ to you.

[size=14pt]Wordsmith!!![/size]

Goodness! Where have you beeeeen?!? God is good! How I have missed so many of you and was wondering if I would ever see people like you, TayoD, babyosisi (until she waved to let me know she's been "upgraded". . . I simply thank God!

Wordsmith:
And to pilgrim.1, if you're reading this :

I be-lie-eve Yeshua (falsely called Jesus by Greeks, Teletubbies and evil whitey ) is LORD and SAVIOUR!

If it was some other username I saw, I would quickly have known it was you! God bless you plenty!

Hi Chrisbenogor, (and all who have enquired about me)

Just for the record, there was no time any of the admins banned pilgrim.1. I apologise for my reservations all day, it was because I had a crucial exams to sit today. I did, and then waited for the results - I passed, and I'm thankful to God.

When I arrived home after the exames, I was so much in high spirits that prayer and praise was the only thing that occupied me for another 4 hours. No, I'm not boasting about how much I pray or worship God; but when I finally settled to first check my email, I was in tears. Two people who I have often ignored because of their vehemence in tone had written asking questions since last night - but one of them also wrote in this morning that she had trusted Christ as her Saviour and Lord!

I was shaking all over, still in tears and wondering if to share the news with some of us on the forum. My fear was that people might feel I was making fictitious claims behind the PC screen that nobody could verify since it was my email box. But I couldn't contain myself when I saw yet another thread by reindeer testifying of the blessing he gathered from what things he read from me!!

I just don't know what to do - whether to log out and go and cry for joy. . . or to stay a while and post in some threads. But in any case, please I just want it to be on record that Seun did not ban me so that people should refrain from attacking him unnecessarily.

Thank you all again. Jesus Christ changed my life - He is my Lord and Saviour!

rampagain:
infact pilgrim i think You should ignore him ,lets all ignore olabowale please,if hes d agent on assignment that has been sent to distract us ,it wont work

I'm sorry for entertaining him. I'll just let him be and focus on others sharing their love in Jesus.

olabowale:
Interesting that the passies are all out in full force. Okare Pilgrim. lol.
And when you finally return to be a muslim, abandoning a god that
uses the bathroom and need to take shower and then worship another God,
these same cheering group; Queenisha, davidylan and co, lol, will be
the same people who will say that that Pilgrim is no good!

Thank you again. I know what Jesus did for me, and I would be a fool to abandon His love and power. God bless you.

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for the refreshing in my heart just now.
I know You are real, and that is why I just want to thank you for Bisi's healing
. . . thank You for her family's rejoicing in Your work
. . . thank You for Your prosperity in their lives
. . . than You for all those who responded to the call to pray
. . . than You for the medical staff who treated Bisi
. . . most of all, thank You for all Your faithfulness and love.

We thank You now and always. Blessed be Your wonderful name. Amen.

olabowale:
Part of the things that Antichrist (Masiah Dajjal) will do is perform miracles, ranging from healling of the sick and infirmed, to raising dead people back to life.

Are these miracles enough for a true believer to follow him? Only those who do have little or no faith will follow him with any of these fake miracles.

Where could human have resided if Adam and Eve did not take the suggestion of Iblis? Thats what you do Pilgrim.1, when you listened to the suggestion of your "boyfriend or whoever," who was your shayatin. No wonder you are suseptible. When you have boyfriend, how can there be a strong Iman in the heart that indulges in Zina?

But Allah is Oft-forgiven, Most Merciful. And when i wasdivorcing the mother of my children in 1989, I went to a church to see what they do in there. And i knew I hated it, even though part of me at that time wanted to safe my marriage.

Thank you again. Jesus changed my life, I am grateful to God for that and continue to pray for others who are going through tough situations to find His love. If He healed my brother, He can do the same for others as well.

@reindeer,

reindeer:
its strange right now, i actually feel that peace through the writer's words, the soft comfort i hope to find someday.
i don't know,can You please pray for me people?i feel as is some part of me wants to experience that peace too.allthough i still have nagging questions about the person of this God that jesus is a part of.

I say amen to Queenisha's prayer. I will keep praying for you and for all who long for that peace more deeply than my words convey.

reindeer:
please don't bother responding to arguments and insinuations, just share on.the arguments can go on another thread.

Thank you for that advice. I think that's the best I can do for now. If they want answers to questions, I am willing to share with them in another thread. God bless you plenty.

theopops:
Ayinba, I think she was talking to her then boyfriend.

Thank you for helping her see the point.

ayinba1:
@pilgrim


Please please please, post Abdul's real email. No one should send threatening emails to you for making a choice. I am not sure you want anyone to objectively evaluate your experience but I notice a pattern here.

You did not just use expletives against your dad! And then repeat it for us to see?

@ayinba1,

That was Abdul's email. I admit I edited some parts (such as hiding his email address and mine, and the ******* expletives he used). Abdul has been a long time emailer to me since the very first time he read my debate on the thread I opened about Muhammad's Miracles. That has been his style - expletives, uncouth, raw, and still Muslim.

When I use     *******      or     **%$***,    that is to show that I didn't want people to read the very nasty and unprintable things that were said there. No, I did not use expletives against my dad - and the part you quoted was not directed against my dad. Please go back and read it calmly and you will see that you are taking things out of context.

God bless.

olabowale:
@Pilgrim.1: « #39 on: Today at 10:14:25 PM »  
I did not say you claimed to be an expert. But to actually pass your story as the truth from God the Almighty Creator, about the true issue of true religion with God, will be less than honest.

An Onishongo person could just be as convinced as your "boyfriend," who told you that your dad will call Jesus god. I guess he did call Jesus god. Either case, it still does not change the fact that the Creator of Adam is One and it was not Jesus that created Adam!

I could tell Zainab, an Owerri princess, a UN Lawyer to tell you her own revertion to Islam. He mother, who is in Lagos is just about to revert to Islam. Oh, my mother Victoria, who is now Mariam used to be a Christian.

Babs 787 and his late father (ra), used to be Christians. All I know is that as a muslim then, you had a bad Iman. But who guarantees that you will not revert to islam before you die at old age?

Thank you, dear sir. There are many people who would not believe anything even if it happened in front of them. I used to be like that and worse; but one thing I know is that 3 miracles and more would be too much for me to deny:

(a) the instant healing of *Joe

(b) my mum's conversion after pretending religious cover up

(c) my elder brother's healing from mental problems.

If I was lying, what would I benefit myself? I don't want a theological argument; Jesus changed my life, and He is my Lord. God bless.

davidylan:
don't worry your own testimony will surpass this one in Jesus name.

Amen and Amen! There is nothing impossible that Jesus Christ cannot do for anyone who will trust Him.

davidylan:
Such venom, how can people hate those they've never seen with so much spite? What will they do to those they see?

Lol, davidylan. . . I was worse than that. If you had met me, you would be mistaken for an angel in comparison. How God delivered me from my hatred towards Christians and Jews, it is still a wonder!

@Queenisha,

Thank you again for this invitation. Infact, if you recall, you had asked the same thing but I declined (that was when I took a long break from the Forum). Between times as I read from my email for others asking me if there was a God (atheists), to those who wanted to know why I left Islam (Muslims), and to others who were just curious as to why I thought Christianity made sense at all (other religious friends). I was tempted many times to just answer their request and oblige them a testimony like this. . . but I had to first pray and seek answers from the Lord Jesus Christ as to what to do.

I had peace all along to do so; but deeper in my heart was the silent voice that said "Wait a little more." I guess His time is always perfect; because if it was earlier than now that Abdul wrote me that email, I might have been irrational in my response. I apologise to everyone that I have ever let down with uncouth remarks, and I pray that you will know the peace I now know in my heart.

Like I said, I still maintain, and will remain so as long as I live: Jesus is Lord - he changed my life, and only to Him should all the glory be! He healed my brother instantly from mental problems, and now is using him in Egypt. My faith may not be as strong for being a missionary, but I never forget to pray for him wherever he goes in Egypt. If God could do that for him after so many years bed-ridden, what can He not do for anyone who would simply trust him?

I am so refreshed and blessed this moment that I just can't stop praising my wonderful Master Jesus Christ! To Him be all honour, praise and adoration.

God bless you all.

Okay, okay, okay. For those who have flooded my email with questions, I can't answer everybody individually. I apologise upfront for disappointing those who requested personal responses. So, I'm going to answer just only one common question among the lot - and any further emails in this regard will receive auto-response to check for the answer here. Thank you for your understanding.


Email from a dear friend:

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Thursday, September 25, 2008 10:47 PM
From: [^hidden]@yahoo.com>View contact details
To: [^hidden]_ro***@yahoo.com


To***,
I am very disappointed in your story telling!! You see how very stupid you are? Who do you think you are deceiving with such stories? Tell me!! Will your father also support such deceit? Don't give me that rubish again O, because I will just make things worse for you!! Anytime I ask questions, you will refer me to nairaland, is that your second home? Rubish.

Now answer me this question. You said that Allah created 7 earths, not so? LIAR, LIAR, LIAR!! Show me where in the Quran you read it! You gutter LIAR and shameless animal!! You ******** !!! LYING against Allah is the reason he threw you away to christianity. May you and the Jews rot in your religion of LIES!!

Show me the verse where you read it, or thunder from Allah fire you 1 million times!

Abdul.

Well, Abdul. . how are you? I had not intended this thread to be an argument; so allow me to again refer you to Nairaland even though it is not my second home. I will just give the answer and leave it at that.

Where did pilgrim.1 read in the Quran that Allah created 7 earths? This is the verse: Sura 65 v 12. If you consult several English translations, you will find the same thing. So let me give you a few examples:

[list]
[li]Rashad Khalifa's translation:
"GOD created seven universes and the same number of earths"[/li][/list]

[list][li]Bewley:
"It is Allah who created the seven heavens and of the earth the same number."[/li][/list]

[list][li]Yusuf Ali:
"Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number"[/li][/list]

[list][li]Hilali-Khan:
"It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven)"[/li][/list]

Dear Abdul, instead of being upset with me, it might help to actually calm down and check before berating me. If I had no such verses, then I would not have made such an assertion. Whatever the interpretation is, that is not my worry for now. I don't want this thread to be an argument platform, so there is your answer.

God bless you with the love of Jesus Christ.

Just so that readers don't misunderstand me, let me elaborate on something here:

[quote author=pilgrim.1 link=topic=175953.msg2855022#msg2855022 date=1222377646]Then, I saw it! We had been mistaking catholicism for Christianity!!

Please understand me: I am not castigating Catholics here. But you could imagine my shock when I first discovered that contrary to what we as Muslims believed, MARY was not part of the Trinity! Another thing was that we were speaking about Tritheism and not Trinity - and that was how I got it all mixed up.[/quote]When I said "we", I mean we as muslims. I had heard so many untrue assertions and only went by them without checking to make sure they were true. Part of what we as "muslims" had mistaken was that Mary was the Mother, then there was the Father, and then the Son - a complete family! Our local imam one day explained it to one of my brothers (the computer analyst) that same way! And I simply carried that same untrue statement as used it against Christians for so long.

Another untrue statement that I held unto was that Muhammad more or less said that Christianity does not work! This was the interpretation given to so many hadiths which describe Christians and Jews as weak people over whom Muslims would prevail. In my naivety, I swallowed those untrue statements just as I swallowed the untrue statement that the Gospels (Injil) and the Law (Torah) were lost! So many untrue assertions muslims hold against Christians were my ammunitions. . . until I stopped listening to the mullah and started searching for truth by myself.

So, why is it that my "prayer" didn't work? My father and I (though having a strained relationship on my fault) shared questions and answers! My goodness - Kylie was right! My dad knew and loved Jesus much more than I could ever have known. he wasn't too concerned about theology, even though he has so much insight - but for him it was rather a pratical reality of life in Christ, or nothing else will do. I asked him why I was not born again. His answer? He asked me never to doubt my salvation. But when I argued that I didn't "feel" it and knew that I was still filled with hate towards Jews and Christians in particular, he asked me to take my arguments to Jesus directly - and he would also help to pray for me.

continued. . .

I continued that way, but by this time, I had so many questions. My faith in Islam was being seriously shaken to its foundations by the evidence of a miracle I could not deny! I had prayed to Jesus whose deity I formerly denied; I just couldn' understand the Trinity; surely the Bible was corrupt and no one could know for sure where the originals were? Etc., etc., etc.

Even then, I read widely while studying for my MA in Sociology. This course helped broaden my thinking process - and I had access to many materials in respected libraries. I was now a seeker - reading about as many religions as I could find materials on. My dad even feared for me because I was devouring too much information at my "tender age". Then, I saw it! We had been mistaking catholicism for Christianity!!

Please understand me: I am not castigating Catholics here. But you could imagine my shock when I first discovered that contrary to what we as Muslims believed, MARY was not part of the Trinity! Another thing was that we were speaking about Tritheism and not Trinity - and that was how I got it all mixed up. So many other issues came to the surface:

- Why did I hate Christians and Jews?

- Why did I encourage myself to LIE against the Bible when I knew our mullah was not telling the truth?

- If I believed that the Quran was faultless, how could I defend the idea that Allah created seven earths when we all know there's only one?

All these were the basic theological concerns that drove me to study more. But to make a long story short, there was just one question that was bothering me, and it had to be settled:

~ Was Jesus Christ truly LORD?

I thought deeply about it, and after searching seriously for answers, I asked Allah to help me find the truth for myself. The case of the miracle came constantly to mind. . . but my stubborness would not let me see clearly.

However, a strange event moved me to fnally kneel and submit to the power of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It was not theology that settled it for me, not any scholarship on my part, not anything I knew or did not know: it was just one thing I could not deny - the unmistakable change in my dad's life. I then realized that the reason why I was not born again was because I had refused to call Jesus "Lord". I consequently did pray and opened my heart to Him as both Lord and Saviour - and that moment I knew I was saved!!

All my hate for my dad had melted at that instant. I just coulnd't wait to run to him and fling my arms around him! We cried, praised God together, and prayed. My conversion led to further blessings that astounded me:

(a) my dear mother received Jesus Christ as her Lord the very next day! My dad was shocked. Why? Because she also had been going along as a "Christian" when she learnt of my dad's conversion. Since she did not want a fiasco or divorce, she played the "Christian" wife but later confessed that she never read the Bible since my dad gave her a copy! She had been secretly reading the Quran and praying that Allah would bring us all back to Islam.

(b) but what powerfully convinced my mum was not my change or conversion. I did not know that *Joe had called earlier that afternoon and since no one was at home, he spoke at length with my mum. She had no idea that *Joe was no longer my boyfriend, and as they spoke he told my mum that he missed me and was inviting me to his wedding. Then he told her that his atheist father had become a Christian a month before he died! That news made my mum shudder because she knew this man so well - a very hard-nosed atheist that ridiculed everything about God or Allah. What power could have made this man into a Christian?

(c) when I openly confessed to my family that I had become a Christian, my mum was expressionless that day, just watching me and my dad in that hug and crying our hearts out in thankfulness to our wonderful master Jesus. But the next day she told us all how she came to Christ from all the evidence she had experienced under 24 hours. The very day she gave her life to Christ, my elder brother who had been suffering from mental relapse and had been bed-ridden for years at home through abuse of drugs was healed the moment she prayed for him! Currently, he is in Egypt and serving the Lord as a missionary!

So many things have happened since I became a Christian that I often shy from using them in arguing against non-belief. I have learnt that no theology or philosophy adequately explains WHO Jesus is; it takes His grace to bring us to our senses and know the power of His Lordship and salvation. So far, I have avoided theological explanations here, because this thread is not a platform for arguments but rather what Jesus has done in my life.


I hope to come back and share more on issues where readers may have specific questions. For now, my prayers with you as a reader, that you may know Jesus Christ and His love. I know for definite, that Jesus is real. More than that, Jesus is LORD.

Shalom and God bless you all.

[quote author=pilgrim.1 link=topic=175953.msg2854769#msg2854769 date=1222372434]Now back to my boyfriend. I had planned to go over and mock the daylight out of him. Afterall, his Jesus had "failed" him, and it was his misfortune that his dad was an atheist. When I get there, I would simply smile sarcastically and ask him to beg Jesus to heal him. I was so sure it would fail to avail him. . . but I went anyways.

to be continued. . .[/quote]When I arrived, the sight of my boyfriend melted my heart. You would have to be a stone to see such a sight and not be able to extend some sympathy. We talked lightly about other things. I asked if there was anything I could do for him - like make him something light to eat so his medicines would work. He looked pointedly at me and that was when he said that the Lord wanted me to pray and see what He would do!

Was this guy crazy, stupid or plain delirious? His dad an I glanced at each other, and for the first time I saw that he had been crying. What for, I didn't know nor do I know now (although his son hinted me that when his situation got worse that morning and I had not come to spend time with them, he burst into tears because he feared he was about to lose his only surviving son from a bitter divorce). Anyway, I obliged to pray, but that was when he stopped me and asked me to pray as a Christian. For heaven's sake, I am a muslim and proud of it! I almost screamed. But he insisted and said calmly:

                '. . . He wants you to see what He can do; because He said your dad called Him "LORD!"'

Just as more of a joke than anything else, I obliged to pray as a "Christian". . . the only problem was that I would never call Jesus "Lord", and I yet I did not know how to pray a Christian prayer. My boyfriend said Christian prayer was not a ritual; I could pray just as I would have a frank conversation with Jesus.

So, I closed my eyes and (although being sarcastic in my heart), I blurted out: "Jesus, please heal *Joe." I paused, not knowing what next to say. . . and I was about to stutter the subsequent sentence when Joe rolled off the couch and started slowly jumping up! He ran and hugged me and started shouting praises to Jesus Christ! What?!? What was happening here? Whether I believed it or not, Joe had been instantly healed!

Confused, scared, and defeated, I ran home, flung myself to the floor and half-cried and half-prayed that Jesus should be my Saviour. I craved peace, love and deliverance! I wanted Him for real. Please! Please! O pleeeeease!

Thanking Him, I rose up, went to the bathroom and washed my face. I tried to be good to everyone, helpful and very nice to whomever I came across. It went on for a while, I became very close to *Joe, but was too scared to be caught attending church. Oh, life must be so sweet. . . but in reality, it wasn't!

I knew I wasn't saved. The same wicked heart, hate and pride against Christians and Jews were present in me. I tried not to betray these feelings and declined to debate any Christian after that incident. But what happened? It didn't take long before I ran out of gas! I knew I was still lost but was covering up with religion.

So, why is it that my "prayer" didn't work? My father and I (though having a strained relationship on my fault) shared questions and answers! My goodness - Kylie was right! My dad knew and loved Jesus much more than I could ever have known. he wasn't too concerned about theology, even though he has so much insight - but for him it was rather a pratical reality of life in Christ, or nothing else will do. I asked him why I was not born again. His answer? He asked me never to doubt my salvation. But when I argued that I didn't "feel" it and knew that I was still filled with hate towards Jews and Christians in particular, he asked me to take my arguments to Jesus directly - and he would also help to pray for me.


*Joe - a pseudonym used for his real identity here.


to be continued. . .

@Olabowale,

Let me explain something to you: this is not a debate on theological issues between Christianity and Islam. I never passed myself off as an expert on Islam at anytime on nairaland. Your point is noted; but you missed the fact that I stated clearly that I was driven by naivety at the time - but became the wiser to stop swallowing what the mullah have always told and started searching for answers myself. Thank you again, but please don't waste your time desperately seeking loopholes - it may do you more harm than good.

@ayinba1,

How are you? Many blessings.

Folks, could I come back and post the sequel after the heat cools? I don't want to be the center of attraction here. Jesus Christ changed my life; and that is Who gets the glory. How He did this is what I will share next.

God bless.

[quote author=pilgrim.1 link=topic=175953.msg2854662#msg2854662 date=1222370853]Then one day, I heard he was terribly ill. What surprised me was that he had requested to see me. What's he up to?

To be continued. . .[/quote]continued. . .

I delayed to go and see my ill friend boyfriend. I was in love; but I had been driven more with hate for his being a Christian than for his being a human being. Please understand: this was just me, it does not mean that is the very same attitude every Muslim takes.

When I finally went over, my plan was to ridicule and cajole him  more that his prayers have failed him - and it was time to convert to Islam! I knew he was in love with me; here was my chance to pressure this guy to be a Muslim so that we would be married.

Hold on, let me here say that before this time, I knew or had the feeling that my dad was slipping away from his muslim faith. He read the Quran less, read more of the Bible (I don't know if my mum or any one of my siblings knew, as I was always very free to play in his study). I was so filled with such hate that for Allah's sake I would blew the whistle if I was the first to know that he was a Christian. Night after night, I would spy on him. . . he would either be reading the Bible; or would simply be studying for his Ph.D. I remember asking him for some notes in his Bible study so that I could be better armed to shoot the killer bullet at Christian apologists. But he would often smile and dismiss me.

Then one day, I went downstairs after having been suddenly woken up. I saw my dad bent over on his knees - arms spread out, and I knew he was not praying to Allah! Muslims surely did not bow the way he was bowed! So, I crept silently towards him and saw his face. .  glsitening with tears. His eyes were so gently shut, but he was evidently out of this world. You only need to be there to understand that there are times when people who are filled with the Spirit are so disconnected and fearless that they are too confident nothing around them can harm them!

But here was the shocker: I heard my dad praying to Jesus!! I was dazed, angry, and yet too powerless to even move! What betrayal! What wickedness! What blasphemy! I thought. As I grimaced at both what I was hearing and seeing, I made to move, and yet there was this inexplicable power that stood me there and drew my interest to keep listening to what my dad was saying. then I heard what broke me:

              ". . . even though I cannot preach, I trust You to save my family, Lord Jesus!!"

That was it! Now, this guy is gonna pay with his. . . his very life! And I was the one who's gonna blow the whistle on him! So I crawled away, my thirst was gone even though I had not drunk the water I came down for in the first place, and I slumped on my bed! What was I going to do? Please forgive me - that was the past me before I became a Christian. I was filled with hate that wee hour of the morning that I cursed and swore at him till daybreak. When we went down for breakfast, my mum knew that something was wrong - my face said it all. But I was determined to tell on "him". This "him" was my dad, but I didn't care one scooby! I was so filled with hate that I wonder that I was ever delivered from it!

Now back to my boyfriend. I had planned to go over and mock the daylight out of him. Afterall, his Jesus had "failed" him, and it was his misfortune that his dad was an atheist. When I get there, I would simply smile sarcastically and ask him to beg Jesus to heal him. I was so sure it would fail to avail him. . . but I went anyways.

to be continued. . .

[quote author=pilgrim.1 link=topic=175953.msg2854412#msg2854412 date=1222367162]I left without a word, and went home to ask my dad a question: "Has Kylie been talking church with you?" "No," he said, "he didn't talk church, he talked about Jesus Christ!"
to be continued. . .[/quote]continued. . .


How come my dad is speaking of Jesus this way? There was something warm and genial in his voice as he spoke; but I thought he was trying his best to help me heal after Kylie's demise.

I made so many friends and didn't really care where they came from - Muslims, Christians, Mormons, atheists, adherents of the Grail Message (learnt from several of them that they don't like people referring to them as Grail Messengers). After my elder brother graduated, he quickly got a job as an analyst in a computing firm. The money was big, and he soon settled. But his success also meant that I could get whatever I wanted - still in school, the 'baby' of the family, dady's girl, etc. But, of course, I faced temptations such as was common to everyone. The difference was that by religious convictions, we were encouraged to pursue modesty, but quite in a legalistic manner.

It Begins to Heat Up!

One good thing about the democracy of the West is that people are free to be themselves. Democracy was not a gift of Islam to anybody; but in such an engalitarian culture, I was free to attend masjid (mosque) in the section for women and pray, perform my rites. . . and on very few occasions try to listen to preachers give lectures. At this point, unfortunately, the real issues of my belief system had begun to be seriously questioned.

What was I taught while growing up? So many things about life in genral. In specific terms, we believed that our ummah (the entire Muslim community in contrast to other religious groups) were the "best among mankind". Others were going to hell for rejecting Allah and Muhammad; and it doesn't matter what we as Muslims did, we shall enter jannah (paradise). I liked the sound of all this, until the real question of my place in Islam made me think deeply; especially because as a woman, our sect in Islam believed the doctrine that those who were more in number in hell were women. I never liked discssuing that point; so I acoided it as much as possible.

However, there were other sects in Islam that were more condescending than our sect. They didn't believe in demonizing women, nor were they inclined to the grey areas of human reality. I had friends in such sects; generally, whether or not we said it openly or privately, we all belonged to the group which saw Jews and Christians with seething disaffection.

As I grew up and wasn't running after oyinbo boys anymore (they came chasing me now), those I met were often interested in their faith. I learnt so many things from a lot of them, but up until now I don't know what was attracting me to Christians even though I knew deep in my heart I so hated them. My excuses were that they were responsible for all the evil of the West, all the degradable things in humanity was brought about by their corruption. . . and one day, they would all be vanquished: it was a matter of time! Please note: there are genuine Muslims who are not belligerent, and up until now I have so many friends among them. But while our parents were serious in their devotions and moderate with extreme issues, I had the sad misfortune of being steeped into some extremist elemtal thinking. I'm sorry, but that is the truth (although, thankfully, our sect never encoraged women to participate directly in Jihad).


Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!!

Fast forward. After several debates with a few people, I had quickly been recognized as a local champion, most feared more because of my very saucy language in debates than for my intelligence. I was praised by my friends, and was so deluded for a moment enjoying the ridicule I put Christians to. The Jews I encountered, surprisingly were very intelligent and did not believe in shouting. They, like the Christians, showed a bit more respect and love. So, how was I able to shut the mouths of Christians? Well, I simply spent hours on end at skeptic and atheistic websites to harvest loads of very demeaning quotes and arguments against them!

During this time, my dad was no longer attending masjid (although I don't know when exactly he converted and became a Christian). As children, we didn't bother to ask him about it, because there were many muslims around us as well who were not too keen about attending masjid (mosque). What people don't realise was that even in Atlanta, there were evidently extreme elements who made it their duty to "eliminate" defecters and "apostates". I knew all this - I knew that it only would take just a report and the 'apostate' is quitely 'removed' from daylight.

So, I kept on with this attitude, castigating Christians and Jewish beliefs with more vehemence. You see, what was even giving me this cowardly boldness (oxymoron) was that we could say anything against others; but they could not do the same to Islam! Although no one cried about a blasphemy Law in Atlanta, we believed that we were well protected in the USA culture to slur Christianity and threaten them if they dared do the same to our belief!

Yet again, I had a softspot for another Christian. His father was an atheist, but they yet lived happily and peacefully among themselves. I look back with tears in my eyes and regret for the many evil things I did personally to him, his family and his belief as a Christian. His father liked me so much he would invite me to upset this gentleman. But hey, he never for one day stop praying for me. I challenged him with a rhetoric: "Since you started praying for me, has you Jesus answered you? Don't you see that you're so **$(%** to be a Christian? Christianity does not work - as prophet Muhammad said!"

His answer? It shocked me - and it happened in just that manner. This is what he said:

           "I know Jesus has answered me. He only asked me to be patient
            and to keep praying for you. He said the sign you will see is that
            your dad will call Me "Lord" with his lips. You will hear him say this,
            and you cannot stop him!"

I was scared, but laughed him to scorn. His atheist father liked my scorning; and I left home more dazed than when I began. There was something so unmistakable in his voice that I just couldn't woosh it away.

Then one day, I heard he was terribly ill. What surprised me was that he had requested to see me. What's he up to?


To be continued. . .

Many thanks for the contributions so far. What I aprreciate more is that this thread is not going as a solo for pilgrim.1 - and as many people make inputs, it would warm the thread a bit more.

[quote author=_Queenisha link=topic=175953.msg2854451#msg2854451 date=1222367860]What were you taught growing up

about Christians and Jews?
the plan of allah ?
your regular rituals to please Allah
things like that[/quote]Thanks for helping to bring focus so that I don't just yan on endlessly. I will tailor my gist according to the neat questions provided - although I had mentioned one of them: the hell thingy.