UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Modelling

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Recently, there is a viral video of a young boy who was expressing total disgust against the entire educational system (in Igbo language). For him, life has become so hard that if you are not a politician or a oversea scammer, then you have no access to what makes life enjoyable – money. When his interviewer suggested that he should stop thinking that way and focus rather on his education, the young boy retorted that ‘education is scam’, to use a popular street language in Nigeria. According to him, there is nothing there in the educational system. And he justifies … Continue reading #SV – Modelling

Uncategorized6 Comments

The Verdict on Religion

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

When Jesus calls our attention to children, he calls us to becoming childlike. Being childlike is the have the mind of a child, a trusting mind, a mind that accepts its limitations but is filled with an innocent trust upon someone greater. It is a call to develop what Zen Masters call the ‘beginner’s mind’, a mind that is docile and ready to learn. In that sense, our spirituality becomes a way of getting beyond our certitudes and our secure-selves in order to move to the realm of childlike innocence and openness. For Richard Rohr “This is exactly what Jesus … Continue reading The Verdict on Religion

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Life-after-Death

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Life after death…yeah, the real taste of life after we had conquered the fear of death; that is, life after we had conquered the fear of losing everything – our property, our reputation, our place at the table of power, our spot at the center, and even our lives. Is that what you are preaching? For real? In the world of today? Yeah! Are you being delusional? I am not! Then, you are simple very naive because it is clear that you don’t understand how this world works. Well, I think I pretty understand how the world works. But my … Continue reading #SV – Life-after-Death

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Lover(s) of Life

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

From a theological point of view, I would refer you to the article by Stan Chu Ilo, “Africa’s Place in World Christianity: Towards a Theology of Intercultural Friendship,” Toronto Journal of Theology Vol.29, no.1 (2013): 125-142. Below are excerpts from p. 138. “Vital union is the bond that joins the living and the dead in a vertical and horizontal relationship; it is the life-giving principle in all. It is the result of communion, of participation in the one reality, the one vital principle that unites all beings. This unity is willed by God at the very moment of creation, because it is the … Continue reading #SV – Lover(s) of Life

Uncategorized12 Comments

Born into Diversity

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

My dad was fairer than my mum. I mean in complexion. I and my siblings have no uniform complexions too, and each of us has a mind of his/her own. Yet, we have a common ground. We are family! That’s not all. In my extended family, we had three kitchens. Whenever we visit home during the festive periods, our little compound turned into a beautiful pond of kids of all sorts. By the way we paired ourselves, it was hard to distinguish our mothers sometimes. And you know what – we all had 3 by 3 round of meals. That’s … Continue reading Born into Diversity

UncategorizedLeave a comment

#SV – Justified Sinner

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Humility is the way of love, of forgiveness, of righteousness, of happiness and joy. This is particularly the case in a world that is defined by power, domination, brute struggle and claims to superiority. Jesus teaches us the other way, the way of humility, of accepting our sinfulness and allowing God to lead and uphold us, to fight for us and plead our cause. Paul while writing to Timothy acknowledged the fact the God stood by him and that it was God that saved him, despite his claims to having done well, and ran a good race (2Tim.4:6-8,16-18). The acknowledgment … Continue reading #SV – Justified Sinner