Sammy Adebiyi - Exploring the Greatness of God Through the Small Eyes of a Nigerian Pastor

Confessions of a 31-year old Junior High student.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:59:22 +0000

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So my daughter made some not so good choices a few weeks ago.

After a few minutes of digging, we realized her bad choices came down to this: she wanted to be like the cool kids at school.

It only took me about 5 minutes of preaching to her to realize that I basically do the same exact thing.

And so do you.

Sure we might have outgrown the patchy facial hair, cracking voice, untreatable acne and pizza BO that plagues many a junior high kids, but for the most part, we all still play the same game of trying to be as cool as the other 'kids'. It's just a lot more expensive now.

Pastors, Beer and Jesus.

Silly rabbit, Jesus does not smile.

The craziest thing I've ever heard about Gods love.

The gospel according to washing toilet seats.

Why we must all learn to pee in cups.

Inadequate.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:19:19 +0000

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If the weight of my inadequacies were dumbbells, I'd be ripped.

"You know they will soon find out that there is less to you than it appears right?"

"You really think God is going to keep letting you bat?"

"Your inconsistency + your pride will NEVER equal being used by God for great things."

"Look. He's so much better than you. You're not that significant because you just found that out."

"Look. You're so much better than him. You're not that significant because you just thought that."

Community: Sticking your hand in poop for a friend!

Dear Christian, you are homophobic, irrelevant and judgmental. ~Non-Christian

Dr Phil, hot sauce mom and your nosey friends

Hi, my name is Sammy and I used to be a 'pretend' Pastor!

I want to quit.

Dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad...

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:39:58 +0000

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Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, dad, Dad, Dad...

54 times.

Pretty sure that's how many times my daughter has said dad in the last 54 seconds.

Its unrelenting. A truly unending slew of requests.

I'm not gonna lie, sometimes I get frustrated cause I'm tired and I just want to watch the game. Or take a break. Or actually have the last sip of my pop instead of share it.

Good news is our heavenly papa ain't like me. The prophet Isaiah says...

I'm not good at being black

Jesus likes crappy gifts.

My circumcision can beat up your circumcision.

One thing I hate about being a dad.

When God picks the fat kid first.

Why I'm leaving my wife and 2 week old baby.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:47:36 +0000

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It's 11PM and my wife and I are sitting on the couch crying.

It turns out this is going to be a lot harder than we ever imagined.

We didn't go into this blindly. We counted the cost. We sought spiritual counsel. We also considered every scenario front and back. Even sideways.

It was a tough decision but we both decided that I needed to do it. I needed to leave soon after our baby would be born.

I honestly can't tell you how much I'm going to miss my girls. I want to cry just thinking about it, but I gotta do this.

Dear Christian, I don't hate u cuz of Jesus. I hate u cause you're a jerk ~Non-Christian

Dear Reader, You Are Not That Special -God

How to change the world with a burrito Or the one post I hope everyone reads

I think I'm better than Jesus

Pimp my trashcan: When Jesus doesn't care if you cuss or tithe

Waiting.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 10.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:48:24 +0000

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Meet Eden Grace Adebiyi.

Born Fabruary 6th 2012. 7pounds, 15oz, 21inches long with lots of hair.

The last 4 days have been a blur. I seriously don't even know what today's date is. These things I do know:

Jesus rocks my face off. I love my daughter. That first poopy diaper is a um, well, you just gotta see it to believe it.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 5.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 6.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 7.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 8.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 9.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:17:00 +0000

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I’m about to experience one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen.  

I know it happens everyday. In fact it just happened to my next door neighbor. And it might have happened to your co-worker also. Or your cousin. Aunt? Maybe even you.

* It’s nothing new yet it’s everything new.
* It’s so natural yet it’s completely supernatural.
* It’s super cliche yet it’s probably the most incredible thing you’ll hear today.
* It’s completely and utterly common yet its completely and utterly never been seen before.

I know I (Sammy) should be on sabbatical from the blog right now but I’m gonna cheat and stick my head in a little bit. Sorry but I can’t hold back. I have to shout this at the top of my cyber lungs...

The devil gave me taco-bell food poisoning & other thoughts on spiritual warfare.

The gospel according to finding Nemo: Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine...

The one non-negotiable essential to being in God's will [that you probably don't think about].

Where is God when I'm suffering?

Why 'dear God I must be wrong' is a great way to end prayers.

Why having a pet rock is more biblical than you think

Why I hope my wife births an Indian baby

Why it matters to you that Jesus battled with sexual temptation Part 1.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 8.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

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#Occupy: Hell

I don’t know about you, but over the latter part of 2011, it seemed you couldn’t open a paper, turn on internet explorer (yes, I still use internet explorer) or watch the news without at least one headline focusing in on the unified cries of the 99.

As well all know, making noise was not enough. Rather than risk their message being missed, they moved in. EVERYWHERE!

Why?

To protest the injustice of the 1% and their poor wielding of power. It hit me one day…these guys may just be onto something.

I’m not jumping on a political soap box, so please don’t do something drastic like close your bank account or stop reading.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 7.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:52:11 +0000

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Wanted: A Few Good Women.

I had the opportunity to share my thoughts on what a Man of God looks like (Wanted: A Few Good Men), It's only fitting that we take a moment to dive into the heart of a woman.

We can’t have a guy post without a gal post. That would cause chaos in the world of blogging and that won’t happen on my watch.

I'll be honest, I’ve struggled with this post. My thoughts have been all over the place.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 6.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:07:17 +0000

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Fat kids. Christmas. Digging ditches. Best sex ever. Bart.

Pop Quiz: What do those 5 things have in common?

Any idea?... No cheating.

Give up? How about some hints?

"When God picks the fat kid first". "Christmas in January". "If you dig it, they will come". "How to have the best sex ever". "Jesus and Bart".

No that didn’t help? Sorry. If it makes you feel any better, it wasn’t supposed to. Actually this is not really a pop quiz. I’m just...

#OccupyMyBlog Day 5.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:49:15 +0000

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I can't follow that.

No one can. When God does the sort of thing that ~~happened~~ is happening on #OccupyMyBlog day 4, all you can do is stand back in awe and watch.

My intention was to post yesterday but how could I? Almost 200 comments of people praying for other people! Are you kidding me? I can honestly say this was to date my proudest moment on this blog...

Which led me to this thought; "Is this it God?", "Is this the end of my blog?"

Because I really can't think of a better way to go out than stepping back and watching-and I don't say this lightly-the best community I've ever seen on a blog love on each other.

Is this the end of my blog?

#OccupyMyBlog Day 4.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:11:43 +0000

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I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

There is only one answer to that question. No. Nothing is impossible for God. Nothing.

Life doesn't always feel that way and God doesn't always seem that powerful, especially when we feel so weak. But I think that's where the church comes in.

Last night after SOMA, the young adult community I lead, some students asked if they could pray for me.

I'm not sure if my face gave the tiredness away (I know, I know, the baby is not even here yet) or they were led by the Spirit of God. Didn't really matter. I was just so refreshed to have 5-6 hands on me.

#OccupyMyBlog Day 3.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:10:33 +0000

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You guys are seriously amazing.

Yea I know I said that already on day 2 but are you kidding me?

Wait, you guys aren't trying to run me out of town are you? I mean, is this some kind of coup? cause the community that's been happening on here since I stepped back from the blog has been just... wow.

I could literally cry.

But I won't. I'm just gonna say it one more time...

#OccupyMyBlog Day 2.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:10:29 +0000

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You guys are seriously amazing.

For real. Amazing. You seriously rock my face off. I am so blown away by the response to yesterdays post (Day 1 of #OccupyMyBlog).

Only God can be credited for what happens on this blog and I'm just glad to be a small part of it.

I'm not sure how long #OccupyMyBlog will go on but I tell you what, I'm gonna enjoy every minute of you guys doing something I've never seen done on a blog before.

Today's dialogue is gonna require a time machine back to the 90's, 80's, 70's, 60's and for some of you the 50's?

#OccupyMyBlog

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:48:07 +0000

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If busy and crazy had a baby, it would be the last and next 2 weeks of my life.

I speak 6 times in 2 weeks. I have a cold. And the baby is coming in less than 3 weeks.

I feel like life is going 100m/hr down the expressway while my blog is stuck behind a slow driver in a school zone. Time to get creative.

Thanks to Susan I have an idea I think might just be a win, win for all of us.

A blog takeover by you. Yes you. Here’s the idea:

(Re) Poser.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:33:16 +0000

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My wife has the ability to capture every significant life moment in a picture.

EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

Sometimes I don’t even remember making the memory she captures. I think it’s a spiritual gift.

Most times I just shrug my shoulders and give her my patent fake smile when its camera time but not this time. No fake smiles or picture taking today...

Why?

(Re) Community: Sticking your hand in poop for a friend!

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:03:49 +0000

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As absurd as it sounds, I promise that the story I’m about to tell is true. Seriously people, you can’t make this stuff up.

Its freshman year in High School and I’m in boarding school in Nigeria which is the equivalent of boot camp for minors except your teachers are actually allowed to beat you.

And by beat you I don’t mean ‘spank’ you with a wooden spoon.

I mean, teachers hit you as hard as they could with specially shaved branches [called canes] they purchased from people whose full time jobs was selling canes to teachers.

[I promise this is all true. If anyone from Nigerian is reading this, feel free to confirm this. I think my haitian readers can attest to this too]

Wanted: A Few Good Men.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:02:34 +0000

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Valiant. Brave. Courageous.
 
What comes to mind when you read these words? Better yet, who comes to mind?

Chances are you probably thought of a character in a book or maybe a movie. Please don’t tell me you thought of a Twilight character.

How many of you thought of your dad? How many of you can think of a man in your life that carries those qualities listed above?

Unfortunately there are not many men in today’s world who deserve to be described as Valiant or Courageous.

How much is your soul worth (on ebay)?

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:37:06 +0000

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So, how much is your soul worth on e-bay? What's your spiritual price tag?

Like if there were a spiritual e-bay and your soul was up for auction, how much would it go for?

I know that’s a weird question but truth is, everyone of us as a price tag. We've all got things that we would sell out to or in the very least be really tempted to sell out to.  

Let me give you one of mine in hopes that it'll free you up to be honest about yours.

(Re) Why I hope my white wife births an Indian baby.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:02:51 +0000

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What would you do if your wife who is of the same race as you births a child of another race?

True story reported on BBC and other reputable news outlets: black ‘Nigerian’ couple had white baby. See blog pic. Absolutely crazy!

Think about that for a sec.

Hubby is black. Wife is black. Husband ‘lays‘ with wife (as the bible is fond of saying) and 9 months later, black wife has a white baby with blonde hair. What would you do?...

Fight? scream? yell? cry? LOL? all of the above?

Rest-less in Ohio.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:28:28 +0000

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...so on the seventh day God rested from all his work. (Genesis 2:2)

Anyone else have a hard time resting?

Thursday is supposed to be my day off and I'm already dreading it because I have no clue what to do with rest. I have such a hard time just resting because I always feel bad for not doing anything which often leads to me doing plenty of things which defeats the whole purpose of resting from things.

Maybe I just don't know what it means to rest.

Dear mega-churches, this is why we make fun of you.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:37:17 +0000

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Hey mega-church, it's easy to make fun of you without feeling bad. Really easy.

Perhaps no one ever told you why because you're so huge and imposing. No worries. I'll let the cat out of the bag.

As long as you promise to not crush my puny self with your giant mega foot.

Alright, enough with the big jabs. Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why people and pastors of smaller churches make fun of bigger churches and their fancy selves.

(Re) Pimp my trashcan: When Jesus doesn't care if you cuss or tithe.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:41:53 +0000

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I don’t have the best house or lawn on my street, but I did have the best trashcan by far.

I’ll spare you the detailed description of what it looked like and just put it this way; It was an IPHONE of trashcans in a world of Zack Morris brick phones.

And yes I often “accidentally” left my trashcan out for a few days after ‘pick-up’ just to show off...

But then the unthinkable happened. The city issued mandatory standard trashcans for everyone consequently eliminating both my elite trashcan status and the ability to judge my neighbors eating habits every time rodents rip through their trash.

(Re) 5 reasons why you should stop reading this blog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:52:53 +0000

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You ever find yourself consistently self-sabotaging what you’re doing?

I do.

For instance, I told my wife [girlfriend then] on our first date why she should seriously think twice before dating me. I’ve also encouraged students multiple times to consider not coming to the college ministry I’m leading.

Today, I’m about to give you 5 reasons why I think you should stop reading this blog...

Old people are overrated and stupid friends are gold.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:22:15 +0000

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"Old people have no clue what they're talking about but my friends are the bomb" -King Rehoboam

How's that for some transparency?  I mean, it doesn't say it like that in the bible but if you read between the lines, that was pretty much what King Rehoboam was saying in 1 kings 12.

Here's a quick summary of the story if you're not familiar with it. A young King confronted with a big dilemma is faced with 2 choices.

The first post on the second.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:16:55 +0000

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Can you believe its 2012? Feels like 2011 was just last weekend doesn't it?

Crazy how time flies. Before we know it, it’ll be 2013. Then 2014. Then 2096, which will obviously be the year someone finally invents a hover board and a flying car.

Oh Nelly, I can’t wait till 2096. Gonna be one rocking year.

But for now, I gotta suck the life out of 2012.

I’m not one to make New Years Resolutions... well, actually I used to make them but after consistently failing on reaching my year long goals approximately 2 hours into the new year, I decided to punt them resolutions.

(Re) Girls love cats, guys say they love cats but when girls aren't looking guys are kicking cats.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Confession: I’ve been daydreaming about ways to harm a stray cat on my street.

I’m sure there are a million ways to accomplish this but the tricky part is doing it without compromising my Christian witness. How do I remain a ‘legit pastor' and rid myself of this menace?

Before u cast cyber stones at me, let me explain.

(Re) How to win a gunfight with an unloaded gun

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Playing paintball with junior high kids is like playing basketball against me. Its easy, fun and you can do it with your eyes closed.

And yea, yea, I know, I’m black and I should be able to ball, but the truth is, I’m awful and I admit it, although I do appreciate being picked first by strangers when I play against all my white friends. But that's a whole different blog. (bonus video: me balling with Toby Mac)

Anyways, years ago I 'paintballed' with some junior high kids. Pretty sure I shot 5 kids within 5 minutes.

But then I ran out of bullets. My gun was unloaded and I was out-numbered 3-1. I didn’t stand a chance, until I remembered the ‘surrender or die’ rule...

Letter to Christian-Republican, Unrelenting-Political-Facebook-Status-Updater Guy or Girl.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Dear Mr or Mrs Christian-Republican, Unrelenting-Political-Facebook-Status-Updater,

My name is Sammy Adebiyi. I’m from Nigeria. I inherited $50 million but I need your credit card info to access it. Just kidding. Its actually only $20 million but lets save that for another letter.

Right now I want to talk politics. I know, sore subject.
‘Your guy’ did not win and ‘the guy’ in office is ruining everything...

Things are bad.
The economy is dreadful.
We might have a president who might not really be ‘American’ [Are you kidding me?]

(Re) Hi, my name is Sammy and I used to be a 'pretend' Pastor!

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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I got ordained last ~~sunday~~ year, which is like going from being a ‘pretend’ Pastor to being a ‘real’ Pastor.

That's right folks. I’m a ‘real’ Pastor now and that means things are gonna be different. Here are the top 10 adjustments I have to make or...

Top 10 things you may or may not know about your Pastor.

1. Every Pastor has a ‘spot’, ‘turf’ or ‘territory’ where they hang out on their days off which by the way is mondays-saturdays. :)

Seriously, if your Pastor is not in his church office, there is a 99% chance he’s at some obscure coffee house or at Panera. Now that I'm a pastor, I'm thinking I need a spot. But something out of the box. I’m thinking chinese buffet or the apple store.

(Re) When your good life is bad and your bad life is good.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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What was the hardest time of your life?

Mine was the spring of 2000.

I remember telling someone I felt like I was alone, standing on a dock the size of a pizza box, in the middle of the ocean. At night. In a storm. With no sign of shore. And I couldn’t swim.

I cried every night that spring.

I remember going to bed depressed but slightly happy because I didn’t have to face life for another 8 hours but then I woke up every morning feeling like life had just socked me really hard in the stomach.

*Black Friday: Your week.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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So, how was your week?

Wait, don't simply say 'good'. Please.

Take some time to actually think about that question and answer truthfully cause I really would like to know...

How was your week? What were your highs and lows this week?

Interview with an Angel Part 2

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Below is a transcript of a real conversation I had with Angels.

By ‘real’ I mean ‘sort of real’ and by ‘sort of real’ I mean ‘completely unreal’. I am ‘S’, the angels are 'A1' and 'A2. Enjoy.

A1: BOO...

S: Whoa. Dude. Stop sneaking up on me like that.

A1: Ha Ha. Sorry. Can't help it. But thanks for the 20 though.

S: What 20?

A1: The one Gabe owes me cause I bet him you'd pee your pants a little when I said boo.

The worst Jewish soap opera ever.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:14:36 +0000

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Reading the book of Exodus is like eating ice-cream when you are lactose intolerant.

It tastes incredible and you could eat it all day but give it enough time to digest and you’ll find yourself doing the impossible: taking the browns to the super bowl on back to back occasions.

Alright that was gross and a bit ‘junior high’. I’m sorry.

But seriously though, if you are ever feeling ‘bad’ or ‘down’ on yourself, just read Exodus and chances are your day will get a lot better because these guys were seriously screwed up. Just check out this brief summary of their journey.

The devil gave me taco-bell food poisoning & other thoughts on spiritual warfare.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:18:00 +0000

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I’m not gonna defend the devil. Ever.

But he sure does take the blame for a ton of things doesn’t he?

The devil gave me food poisoning. He made me not do my home work. He got our house foreclosed. He made me forget to put the toilet seat down. The devil made me sin sexually.

If you grew up in a hyper charismatic culture like I did, you’ve heard it all. I admit, I’m a big skeptic of any statement that begins with “the devil made me ______”

I’m not saying the devil isn’t responsible for some things. I’m just not sure the reason you’re sick from taco bell is the devil.

Black Friday: Sweet and Sour Families.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:25:29 +0000

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Do you guys want to start a blog tradition?

Last friday I wrote about nothing (literally) and 150 comments later, I was stunned at your response. A few fridays prior, I had asked this simple question "How are you?" and once again I was blown away by the amount of dialogue that took place (over 100 comments).

Checking my blog on those posts was like walking into Walmart on black friday. It was crazy in this mug and I absolutely loved it.

I hate Christmas Part 2: To gift or not to gift.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:40:24 +0000

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Who has two thumbs and is against giving gifts on Christmas?

Not this guy. I’m really not. Nope. No anti-gifts sentiments here.

In fact, I’m going to be buying my wife and daughter something(s) sweet for Christmas. Granted I’m gonna wait till the 24th since I’m a dude but a gift’s a gift’s a gift right?

So no, I’m not preaching against buying your family stuff during Christmas. If those were your conclusions from yesterday’s rant you probably missed my point.

Believe it or not but my disdain for what this season has become is fueled by my passion and love for Jesus. I wasn’t ranting because I’m a Negative Nancy (I’d say Sammy but that doesn’t start with an N) who doesn’t appreciate anything Christmas-y.

I hate Christmas.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:38:02 +0000

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I hate the Christmas season.

I’ve been sitting and thinking now for over a day about how to follow that statement.

I usually don’t have a problem with words but this one is throwing me for a loop because I don’t know how to say what I want to say without sounding like a Grinch or coming off like an African Scrooge with dreadlocks.

Maybe I could start by amending that initial statement.

I hate the Christmas season because I think the devil loves the Christmas season.

Now how messed up is that?

When I grow up, I want to be a mind reader.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:49:47 +0000

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"Dad, you NEVER said anything about my outfit today"

Kids. They say the darnest things don't they?

Her transparency and quickness to tell me what she’s thinking never ceases to amaze me. She was hoping I’d acknowledge how cute she looked, and when I didn’t, she simply called me out on it.

You know what we adults would have done in that situation?

The nothing blog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Well, this could be awkward... I've got nothing today.
Nada.

But hey, that's why we call this a community. Just because I have nothing doesn't mean everyone has nothing and we can't talk about something.

So, in honor of 'the one word blog' (which ironically has one of the highest comments responses we've ever had on this blog), we're gonna have the nothing blog where you get to fill my nothingness with something.

I see white people, uh, I mean mini-vans?

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:04:28 +0000

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I see ~~white people~~ Honda's.

Odyssey's to be specific. I see them everywhere. In fact I think one winked at me yesterday outside a coffee house. It's the most bizarre thing...

Ever since my wife and I started researching mini-vans, Honda's specifically, I literally see them in every lane, street, road or parking lot, so either there's an unusually super high spike in the ownership of Honda's in the last month or it's true what they say...

George W, short chubby actors and the world's best impersonator.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:54:15 +0000

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I'm starting to believe that fear is the world's best impersonator.

You ever listen to a great impersonator with your eyes closed? It's amazing isn't it?

It's like that other actual person being impersonated is right there in the room with you. Except they are not. That's not George Bush. That's a short chubby actor mimicking the voice and mannerisms of W. It's called an impersonation.

And that my friends is how fear rolls.

You close your mind long enough and fear will start to sound a lot like patience...Or wisdom... Or love... Or faith... Or even... wait for it... courage.

It's impressive really how having great fear can sound a lot like having great courage. Case in point...

What'chu talkin' 'bout Willis?

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:30:29 +0000

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Whacoo talking 'bout Willis?

Or Johnny? Craig? Elliot? Hannah? Jennifer? J? Maryanne?

What are you talking about? Or more appropriately, who are you talking about?

A few weeks ago I posted the worst journal entry in the history of the world by yours truly. Gotta tell you, I've come a long ways since I wrote that. My prayers over the last years have been consistently inward focused.

Change my heart. Draw me to you. Help me love you. Help me want you. Incline my heart to you.

Man, I can't tell you how much I've prayed that.

Video Blog: A great reason for you to cry on a sunday.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0000

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No I'm not crying, I'm just uh, um, slicing some onions over here.

*sniffle* *sniffle*

You know what really gets me going?

An underdog story. Any underdog story.

I pretty much cry at every movie that involves an underdog defying the odds. That includes all underdog sports movies no matter how cheesy it is. [Mighty ducks? Check. Miracle? Check. Space Jam? Maybe. :)]

I even cried when I watched 'IP-Man', a movie about an outnumbered and improbably martial arts teacher who fought for justice.

I don't know what it is but I'm just a sucker for the little guy. I love improbable people doing improbably things. I love that Jesus picks the fat kid first...

Thanksgiving, baby poop and balling with Toby Mac.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:17:13 +0000

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There’s nothing like being in the story of Jesus.

Nothing. Go all in. Seriously, do it. Risk. Trust. Wait. Suffer. You’ll never regret it. Ever.

This has been an incredible year for my family and I and we like many of you, have so much to be thankful for. Here are a few of the biggest highlights...

Hey you, I wanna pick a cyber fight with you today -Me.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:50:52 +0000

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Look, I'm not that high maintenance.

I mean, I don't drink regular milk and I don't like cheese. I don't like chocolate and I don't like any kind of deli meat.

I can't eat at most restaurants and I don't like most desserts. I don't like taco's and according to my wife, I don't like anything 'normal'.

I also returned about 10 cases before settling on a case for my Ipad. I like to fold my shirts a certain way and I'm only happy when my suitcase is packed the right way, which is my way.

But no, I'm not high maintenance. I'm easy to live with but there is one thing I believe that I will fight you about if you disagree...

The gospel according to MC Hammer.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:40:19 +0000

Off

So we've already covered the gospel according to washing toilet seats. How about the gospel according to MC Hammer?

First some context.

Last week my daughter walked up to me and said "Dad, can you please pray for me? I think I'm getting sick".

Oh Snap. If this were the classic old school Adam West batman movies, this is the part of the blog where I get popped in the soul.

BOOM. KAPOW. POW. ZAP!!!!!

"Dad, can you please pray for me?"

Why Jesus asked us to hate our parents and what parents should do about it.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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It's impossible to go all in for Jesus without ticking off people who are close to you.

Impossible.

If you are determined to play a role in Gods story, be prepared for family to look you in the eye and call you crazy. Or on the flip side, be prepared to look someone you love in the eye and call them crazy cause of their dreams.

In other words, followers of Jesus, be ready to be hated and/or to be a hater.

Say what? The first part yes but second part...Really?

Caution: God at work.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" [Philippians 2:13]

You should read that again. Simple truth. Amazing implications.

If it's okay with y'all, I'm just gonna let the bible speak for itself today.

But you really should read that again. This time, let it soak in.

That subtle lie we all believe about leadership.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:24 +0000

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If I ever go into serious counseling, I’m pretty sure my 5th grade boy scout story would have some serious therapeutic implications.

The details are fuzzy but I remember feeling so empty and disappointed when that other kid was picked over me to be the boys scout leader.

Its not that I was super passionate about living the committed and sacrificial life of a 5th grade boys scout. I think deep down, I just wanted to be a leader.

I had this ‘thing’ in me that wanted to lead something or someone. I call it the 'leadership ‘thing’.

Do you mind if I talk to you about said ‘leadership thing’ real quick?

Why we must all learn to pee in cups.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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I pee too much.

Now how's that for an opening statement?

Funny? immature? random? strange?. Call it what you want but I ain't laughing cause it's true. I really do pee a lot. I wake up at least twice every night to pee, sometimes 4-5 times a night.

I obviously have a problem but much to my wife's dismay I refused to see a doctor.

I guess I was scared, especially after Google told me it could be anything from Constipation to Diabetes.

Behind The Scenes: Our Past.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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For those of you who don't know, I'm a young adult Pastor at North Point Church in Toledo, Ohio.

Our young adult community is called SOMA and we are currently in the midst of a series called:
Behind The Scenes: 'the secret lives of almost everyone'.

Our hope is to shed light and hope into the secret, dark corners of our souls like say for instance, our past.

I'll be totally honest, I'm not sure where today's post is supposed to go. I just really had a sense that someone(s) out there needs to see and hear Jeff's video about dealing with his past (Video after jump).

I don't know.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:30:29 +0000

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I don’t know how I am supposed to have a kid at age 99 - Abraham (father who had many sons and many sons he had. I am one of them and so are you. right arm, left arm).

I don’t know what to do with my dreams while sit in prison -Joseph (techno-colored dream coat dude).

I don’t know how to lead these people because I am slow of speech and tongue -Moses (big bushy beard. Prince of Egypt. Let my people go).

I don’t know how I, a sherpherd will ever become King -David (pizza delivery guy who killed the big bad giant).

Digging through the most hurtful thing someone ever said to you.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:16:31 +0000

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Last November, I went home for the first time in 11 years only to find myself getting really nervous to see one of my old high school friends.

Crazy thing is, if prior to this trip you told me I was still carrying wounds from high school, I would have rolled my eyes and looked at you like you were from crazy town.

Its really amazing how long words stay with us.

I don't remember the exact words this friend said 14 years ago but I remember him saying something along the lines of "I guess Sammy could manage to tag along but really he doesn't bring anything significant to the table".

I remember the exact moment when he said that but again, if you would have asked, I would have told you I was over it.

Terrible advices from the bible Part 2.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:48:42 +0000

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Opening statement: If Christianity were a poker game, then saying 'don't judge me' would be having pocket aces (in poker) or top 5 suits (in euchre).

Alternate opening statement for those who don't play cards: The phrase 'don't judge me' is like a 24/7 get out of jail free card when caught in uncomfortable conversations about self-issues.

I know we don't wanna admit this out loud but saying 'don't judge me' or 'stop judging me' or 'you're being too judgmental' is the ultimate trump card isn't it?

When someone pulls this on you, there is no come back. There's nothing you can do except walk away. Unless you want to argue with Jesus.

Terrible advices from the bible Part 1.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:00:29 +0000

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In Nigeria, the word for underwear is pants. So, you can imagine my shock when I first came to America and people randomly complimented my undergarments.

"Hey Sammy, what size are you? I've got some pants I'm no longer wearing that could fit you".

Creepy weirdo Americans :)

It's amazing how a simple misinterpretation can change the original intention of a statement.

Unfortunately this happens all the time with Jesus. One small interpretation and what was meant to be a counter-cultural life changing truth from the Savior of the world becomes a kind of terrible advice that you'd hear on say the Dr Phil show. Here's a big one.

Why I hope all your good dreams (eventually) become garbage.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:29 +0000

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Ever been in the middle of saying something and halfway through you try to reach out to grab your words and throw it back in your mouth because you realize how absurd it sounds?

I’m not talking about classic foot in mouth moments like...
“So when’s that baby...(this is the point where hand reaches out to stick words back in mouth) due!

I’m actually talking about the good kind of ‘foot in mouth’ moment.

Yea, I had one of those last week while my wife and I were cruising to the ‘wall of marts’ in our luxurious Chevy Prism. I said...

An honest response to an everyday question.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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So, how are you doing?

Wait, don't simply say 'good'. Please.

Take some time to actually think about that question and answer truthfully cause I really would like to know...

The morning after pill.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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It’s our first morning home from Haiti and Ashley and I are laying in bed having a hard time getting up and adjusting back to life in the US.

It’s 9:53a.m and we’ve been laying here for several hours already crying. Visions of the last 10 days loom deep in our souls.  

I keep staring at the door. Like I don’t want to walk through it. I don’t want life to start again. I don’t want the morning to begin.

I wish I could freeze time, rewind and then pause.

Where is God when I'm suffering?

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:44:43 +0000

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A few weeks ago I got an email from Sydney, a girl who has just experienced 4 tragic deaths in the last 2 weeks.

Not 2 years or 2 months. 2 weeks!.

She wanted to know why God would allow those things to happen. She noted;

"If God is so great and so good, why does he allow such terrible things to happen? Is it out his control? But I thought nothing was out of his control?"

A few weeks after she emailed me, I addressed this question on Sunday morning; 'where is God when I'm suffering?'

Just a kid talking to you about God and life.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:45:27 +0000

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My daughter asked if she could guest post on my blog and I said no so she made 'that face' and I said yes.

Now I probably should pay her $5 to wait at least a few years before teaching the (coming) baby 'the face that'll get dad to do anything for you'.

Oh boy.

Anyways, here we go. Actually, one more thing. I should add that she inspired one of my favorite posts on this blog. It's 'the gospel according to washing toilet seats'. Check it out.

K. Now let's roll...

Laugh.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 03:55:43 +0000

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Bwahahahahaha, LOL, Peter that’s hilarious -Jesus (Message paraphrase).

No, that’s not really a real verse. I’m just joshing you. But let me ask you a serious question.

Have you ever pictured Jesus laughing? Not smiling.

I’m talking belly ache, roll on the floor, crazy snorting, tears in eye, chocking on spit laughter. Can you see Jesus like that?

A little hard isn’t it? But should it?

Waiting.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:34:01 +0000

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I’m flying to Nashville right now to meet some people to talk about a tour I’m doing with a pretty big Christian artist.

Although this will be my 4th or so tour, I can genuinely tell you that there is nothing ‘normal’ about it.

My wife and I are always stunned every single time. Its an incredibly exciting privilege that we don’t take for granted.

The only thing I’m not looking forward to is having to answer this question again.

Wait.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:37:22 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

Otherwise known as the worst journal entry in the world.

As some of you who’ve been around for a while know, I’ve tried to air my dirty laundry quite a bit on this blog but this one is really gonna hurt a little.

Its hard and uncomfortable enough just reading it by myself but now I’m gonna post it?

I really don’t want to, which is why I’ve been sitting here for the last 45 minutes trying to talk myself out of it. This is bad and embarrassing.

And yes, it is quite likely the worst journal entry in the world and it was by yours truly. Enjoy.

Times.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:17:51 +0000

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Following Jesus is like riding a roller coaster that goes up then down, then spins 360degree, under water, through the clouds, oops we just hit a tree, now its raining, I mean sunshine and by sunshine I mean snow storm.

Did I tell you I’m blind folded? But he’s holding my hand. Even though I can’t always feel it.

Did the ride just stop at the top of the hill? Maintenance? Really? Right now?

This is so hard. This is so great. This is so exhausting. This is so rewarding.

I’m crying. NO! I want off right now. My arms are in the air. WOO-HOO!. Where has this been my whole life?

Miracles.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:20:11 +0000

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You guys like what I just did there?

I just added an 's' to yesterdays post and whala, we have a sequel to the awesomeness that happened on the last post.

I honestly think that was by far one of my favorite interactions on this blog. I wanted to just sit and soak in every comment over and over and over again.

Fingers? Colors? Rain? Babies without knee caps? Self-healing? Clouds?

Miracle.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:02:18 +0000

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Are you pregnant?

Is this the most dangerous question in the world for a man to ask a woman?

I think so.

Actually, I thought so, until my wife got pregnant and like 10 men asked her if she was pregnant. No joke. And this was when she was barely showing!

Isn’t the rule of thumb don’t ever ask?... like ever!
For real, men, unless the woman is in labor, don’t ask. Even then, make sure a child is actually coming out of her already.

Rest.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:20:18 +0000

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“When day are you taking off this week? You must take a day off”

Not really the kind of text I was expecting to get from my new boss.

You would think no one has to check up on me to see if I'm taking a day off. I mean, come on, who doesn't want a day off? Everyone wants one.

So why don't I take one? Why isn't it a priority?

I don't know. What answer do you wanna hear? Ok, fine, I'll give you both.

First, the spiritual answer that I tell myself.

Grow.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:45:20 +0000

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I really want to grow.

If growth were a mountain, I'd hike it yesterday. Or swim it if it were an ocean.

Wouldn't it be cool if growth didn't involve growing but rather 'appearing'? I guess that defeats the whole purpose of g-r-o-w-i-n-g...

The bad idea blog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:59:31 +0000

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So a few months ago I stumbled across a creative post called “bad idea inspiration” by Jonathan Malm. Absolutely brilliant.

Here’s the idea.

You think of royally bad idea then work on finding the good in the idea. The point is by forcing yourself to think of bad ideas, you allow yourself to think freely.

Great way to exercise creative muscles.

Some examples from my buddy Jonathan are 'flammable oven mitts' and 'speed limits that change the speed randomly'. Ha. Ha. Here are some my wife and I came up with:

You Are A Nerd (And Why That's Important).

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Everyone has their quirks.

My friend Lou is super passionate about sound. My friend Matt has an insatiable curiosity for all things outdoors. My friend Jon is a mechanical engineer and gets fired up about the inner workings of everything.

Downright nerds.

Oftentimes I don't know what they're talking about. But I love it. Actually, when I want to have a great conversation, I seek out the nerds. They know a lot about something…and I become wiser when I talk to them. Matter of fact, the nerdier the better.

Is this the greatest worship service ever?

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 02:57:21 +0000

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They were caught outside in the pouring rain but they don’t care.
Hands in the air. Waving back and forth in unison.

No one is sitting.

Some are jumping. Some are crying. Some are simply screaming at the top of the lungs. Everyone is soaking wet. No one cares what anyone else thinks.

Did you see the dude without a shirt on?

Unbelievable passion. Greatest worship ever? Judge for yourself (please watch video after the jump).

Help, Play or Shut up.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Have you ever watched a game of tennis?

Yea, me neither.

But the other day I accidentally left the channel on ESPN while a tennis match was on.

I don't remember who was playing but I do remember the commentators muttering something like this over and over again.

An angry preacher & his sick dog Part 2: Feeling Fruity.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:55:28 +0000

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Y'all are not gonna believe what happened yesterday at 3:43PM.

Seriously. You won't believe it and I can't fault you for that cause the timing is just...well, why don't you folks see for yourself.

So yesterday at 7:45AM, I published a post called "An angry preacher and his sick dog".

Later in the day, I came home and guess what had happened? (cue super dramatic music)...

An angry preacher & his sick dog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:10:38 +0000

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My name is Sammy Adebiyi and I am an angry person.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I walked into our sun-room to find that 'our smart dog' had ~~pooped~~ 'defecated' (cause my wife thinks it's immature to use that other word on my blog) all over the floor.

Now I’m not talking about a spot on the carpet, I'm talking e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e.

I cannot even tell you how angry I was. I was so ticked off that I just wanted to yell at her as loud as I could. I wanted to scold her really bad, but here's the problem...

How to look God in the eye.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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When my wife and I first adopted 'our Haitian daughter' I noticed immediately that she couldn't look me in the eye.

It was the strangest thing.

She'd hug me. Tickle me. Try to pick me up. She even said 'I love you dad' and 'I love you mom' as soon as she moved in.

From the outside, she showed every sign that our relationship was solid, except she wouldn't look me in the eye. It was always...

Going commando on a first date (Happy Birthday).

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:43:15 +0000

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It's hard to believe but a year ago today I posted my first blog post ever:

"Sometimes you have to go commando to be in Gods story"

I remember thinking "Sammy, what are you doing? Going commando on your first (blog) date? Really? This might just blow up in your face".

And boy did it. This blog completely blew up in my face, but in a great way. Like cake being smashed in your face on your wedding day good.

Like my daughter said last week, God can take a little thing you do and make it into a big thing.

Just a dude talking to dudes about love.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:00:29 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

Hey dudes, I wanna talk to you about love.

I know. I know. We're guys.

We don't like repeating things out-loud at church much less talk about our 'feelings' online.

Don't worry, I plan on including enough 'man stuff' in this post to take the 'sting' out of it.

In fact, why don't we just get it all out of the way in the next sentence?

'Jack Bauer'. 'P90X'. All those 'abs from 300'. 'I don't have any money but what I do have are a very particular set of skills...'. 'You sold our dead bird to a blind kid?'. 'Beef Jerky'. 'Touchdown'. 'Beer'.

Dear Christian, I don't hate u cuz of Jesus. I hate u cause you're a jerk ~Non-Christian

Dear Christian, you are homophobic, irrelevant and judgmental. ~Non-Christian

Dr Phil, hot sauce mom and your nosey friends

four, five, SEX part 1: Boobs.

I'm not good at being black

How to be mean to your family and nice to strangers.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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That's the unwritten rule isn't it?

Be extremely gracious to people you hardly know but treat those who are closest to you like trash.

Isn't it amazing how the same thing can mean two completely different things based on how we perceive who it's from?

How about some examples.

Stranger goes out of their way to help us, they are generously giving us a gift.
Spouse goes out of their way to help us, its status quo cause they are doing what they're supposed to do...

Boys to Men.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:30:29 +0000

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What does it mean to be a man?

18 years ago, it was easy for me to answer that question.

A 'man' was the guy who could belch the loudest, fart the furthest, carry the heaviest and grow the fastest facial beard.

Unfortunately none of those things were true of me in high school.

Saying I belched like a girl is an insult to girls who belch. I also had the muscles of a grass-hopper and I didn't shave until I was 21.

You know what my nickname was in HS?...

Jesus likes crappy gifts.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:00:29 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

Dads are weird.

They love lame gifts from their kids.

Have you seen some of the 'art' or 'paintings' dads have on their refrigerator?

I swear my dog [the smart one, not the dumb one] could draw something more grand.

Worst part is when dads try to show it off.

Oh boy.

Hey check out what my boy drew me for Christmas. Isn't this amazing?

*cricket* *cricket*

I want to quit.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:47:37 +0000

Off

If there was ever a day I wanted to quit my blog, it would be today.

I'm.

completely.

exhausted.

with.

this.

thing.

Is it fair to say with every good thing comes a season when you wrestle with the thoughts of walking away?

I know that's not super spiritual. Sorry.

But sometimes quitting seems a lot easier than pushing through the pain and exhaustion.

Breaking up with your body is hard to do.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Imagine you wake up tomorrow morning and your hand was gone.

Nothing.

Wrist up, gone. You notice a note on your desk.

It's a letter to the rest of you from.... what? Your hand?!?!

Super weird.

So, you do the logical thing. You start reading your hand’s letter to you.

No? You'd never do that? Don't be a debbie downer. Just play along and read the letter okay?

Spiritual lessons from the world's smartest dog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Promise: This is the most epic story you’ve heard in the last week. Book it.

No embellishment. No exaggerated details. Just true awesomeness.

So I got a voice message from a stranger saying they found my dog.

Now that’s weird.

I was the last one home and I distinctly remember locking up.

Probably just a crank call right?

No. I walk into the house. Everything looks the same as I left it.
Doors locked. Fenced shut. No one’s been in or out.

The one word blog two.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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One of my favorite old posts was when I asked people to think of one word that honestly describes the current season of their relationship with God.

I honestly did not anticipate the response and honesty I got from everyone.

It's been a while now and my word has changed so I thought I'd bring it back.

Me first.

My relationship with God [currently] in one honest word:

The loudest Amen you've ever heard.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Last weeks video was a definite tear jerker.

This weeks... well, I don't even know how to prepare you for this one.

It's gonna seem fake but I promise you its real. I know people who were at this in Nigeria.

Absolutely mind-blowing.

I'm not even gonna ask you to tell me what you think of this video in one word cause yea, impossible.

I know I'm selling this pretty high but I promise nothing can prepare you for it. In fact, I'm probably under-selling the sheer magnitude of what is captured in this video.

Just see for yourself [Video after the jump].

The power of one.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:56:38 +0000

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So I picked my daughter up from her first day of school and within minutes I was balling my eyes out in the car.

Here's the skinny [go ahead wifey, laugh at me for trying to be cool by saying here's the skinny]:

Earlier in the day, Bebe saw a girl nervously clinched to her mom in the school hallway.
For some crazy reason she walked over and said...

'Hey my name is Bebe, what's your name?'. 'Is this your first day?'
'Its okay. I was new last year too'

'Mrs ___, you can leave. Don't worry, I'll take care of your daughter'.

Spiritual lessons from the world's dumbest dog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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How dumb is my dog?

So dumb he left a dent in my refrigerator from walking into it.

How dumb is my dog?

So dumb he tries to jump out the car window every time he sees something interesting.

How dumb is my dog?

So dumb he chases his tail until he gets dizzy then stumbles over.

How dumb is my dog?

One thing I hate about being a dad.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:55:18 +0000

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About a month ago my daughter heard a sermon in Sunday school about insecurity.

Later that day she opened up to us for the first time about her self image struggles.

I stood in disbelief as my little baby talked about not feeling pretty enough, cool enough or good enough.

I almost burst into tears as she confessed that she wished she looked like ______.

Naturally I went into preacher mode, throwing every scripture, story or illustration I could at her hoping to somehow kill this self image monster that was fighting for my little girls heart.

Questions about 9/11.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Dad, what happened at 9/11?

How do I really answer that question?

Should I try to shield her from the cold reality of how depraved humanity is?

Or should I let her soak in the uncensored chilling images of how two giant buildings with people in them collapsed?

How is she going to process what I still can't process after 10 years?

Where do I start?

WOW.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

Off

I’m a sucker for stuff like this.

In fact, I think a little fly flew into my eye the first time I saw this video.

Same darn fly that’s gonna poke your eyes in a few minutes.

So many words come to mind when I watch this. [Video after the jump]

11 reasons you might stop reading this blog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Warning: I'm airing my dirty laundry today. You might unsubscribe after you read it so if you like this blog, you might wanna consider skipping this post.

You’d think I would have learned from writing this post called 5 reasons why you should stop reading this blog but here I go again. I guess I should explain myself.

While processing a challenging talk my Pastor gave on humility, I felt like God wanted me to write down 30 ways I struggle with pride.

If you can't say amen, say ouch right?

Wish I could say it took me hours or days but really it took less than 30 minutes and I could have kept going. :(

President Obama, King David and super cheap worship.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Knock. Knock.

Who is it?

President Obama.

President Obama who?

No President Obama anything. Just President Obama.

What? get out of town.

No I won't. I'm the president and I need to do some important government stuff in your basement. Now open the door before secret service breaks it down.

Imagine if that happened to you?

My circumcision can beat up your circumcision.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Do you know how much smack talk is in the bible?

Tons.

Here are my top 3.

1. David and Goliath.
"...I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the Philistines...to the birds...that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel..." [I Samuel 17:46]

Translation: "Fool. You be tripping. After I whoop you and your homies, imma give the birds a 'giant' buffet and all the world will holla at how mighty our God is."

Orange bags, dog business and broccoli.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Hey you. Yes you!

You freak me out walking around with that orange bag.

You know what orange bag i’m referring to. The one you use to carry your dogs business.
[business is code for a word I’m not allowed to say on this blog cause its immature]

Yea that orange bad. Oh no you didn’t.

You seriously gonna do that?

The Unbelievable Truth.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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I am going to tell you something you won’t believe.

Oh, you might mentally agree with the statement. But, I doubt you really believe it.

Ok. Ready? Here it is.

If you have placed your faith in Christ, then God feels no wrath toward you.

A guy who is way smarter than me puts it this way:

“God has only love, compassion, and deepest affection for me, and this love is without any admixture of wrath whatsoever.” (Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer. Read it!)

Now, I want you to think about this. Let it sink in. God has ONLY love and affection for you. And NO WRATH...

I'm a Christian and I believe in Karma.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Actually I'm a Pastor and I believe in Karma.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to create some kind of mutated two headed Christian karma religious monster.

In fact, I don’t remember ever praying the "I put my faith in Karma" Karma prayer in the back of the Karma tract.

I only prayed the ‘sinners prayer’ after some preacher guy literally scared the hell out of me at VBS.

But somewhere between then and now, Karma snuck its way into my theology and I fully bought into it.

How do I know?

Spiderman’s guide to changing the world with 2 Big Macs.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:19:51 +0000

Off

If ‘you had me at hello’ and ‘so you’re telling me there’s a chance’ were the most famous movie quotes of the 90′s then this has to be tops in the last 10 years.

With great power… [Finish it with me... I know you know it] comes great responsibility.

'With great power comes great responsibility.'

I think what makes that quote so quotable is that it not only challenges love struck super heros but its such a powerful challenge for you and I.

I know, I know, you’ve not been bitten by a mutated spider and you can’t scale sky scrappers in spandex.

You don’t even have a cool nick name and the only slime you’ve brought to justice was in a dirty diaper...

The 4 hardest words in the english language.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Last week dateline NBC featured the story of a serial killer who agreed with prosecutors to reveal the graves of the girls he brutally murdered.

One of the many things I couldn't understand about this disturbing story was how this guy couldn't accept responsibility for his actions.

The closest he came to owning his crimes was, "I was just an instrument".

Now keep in mind that he said this AFTER he had led cops to where he buried his victims and AFTER he had been convicted.

No matter how much they pressed, he just couldn't utter these words...

Is God a drill sergeant old man on a hill that can't have any fun?

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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What do you see in that picture? (Pay close attention)

A young woman turning her head away from you?

Or an older woman with her chin burrowed into her scarf?

What you see will determine how you respond.

We do the same thing with God. I see Him one way and you see Him differently. We worship the same God but come away with a different experience.

How is that possible?

We are talking about the same Jehovah-Jireh who...

Silly rabbit, Jesus does not smile.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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I’m not sure what I googled but I gotta tell you, I stopped short in my cyber-tracks when I saw that picture [to the left].

To be honest, it kind of freaked me out a little bit.

Maybe it’s just me but I have a hard time picturing Jesus doing what he is doing in that picture...

Smiling. Having a good time. Laughing.

Shouldn’t Jesus have a halo over his head?

Shouldn’t Jesus have that aloof, meditative “I’m-thinking-about-heavenly-things" super-spiritual glazed look on his face?

Isn’t Jesus supposed to be always intense and serious? Or mad at how crappy the world is?
Or in the very least grumpy (in a righteous way) from having to deal with all those nitwits?

The one non-negotiable essential to being in God's will [that you probably don't think about].

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Imagine Adams life before the fall.

No sin. No shame. No guilt. No worries.
Just him, his ~~naked~~ wife and God. Thats it.

All he had to do was enjoy God, raise a family and go to work.

(insert screeching sound) Wait what? work?

This was before the fall remember? No way dude.

Yes way. Yes way indeed. Before the fall, God commanded Adam to work....

What Face-Book tells us about Gods will.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Face-book is changing the world.

The other day I walked into the Toledo Library and I couldn't believe what I saw. Every single person on a computer was surfing face-book.

At first I was a little disgusted but then I had a thought that confused me.

What if this is Gods will for all these people?

What if what those people were doing was actually because of Gods will?

Before you cyber stone me to oblivion, please hear me out...

Dumb and Dumber, Vanilla ice and your faith.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Is there a movie with more memorable lines than dumb and dumber?

'We have no money, we have no food...' [finish it with me... I know you know this] our pets heads are falling off!

How about this one...

So you're telling me... [finish it] there's a chance.

One last one.

Alright stop. Collaborate and listen. Ice is back with [sing it out now]...

Superhero Christology

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Superhero Christology.

The first half of that sentence is pretty clear.

Super-hero: muscle-bound, spandex-wearing do-gooders that either by some weird accident have super powers on this earth.

The second word just means the study of Christ. Like geology is the study of the earth and biology is the study of life, Christology is the study of who Christ is and what he has done.

Whether you believe it or not, you have some form of Christology.

Because Jesus is so great and powerful, it is natural for us to associate him with someone or something great to give us some reference.

Why 'dear God I must be wrong' is a great way to end prayers.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Those of you who are parents know how frustrating it is when your kids jump in the wrestling cage with you.

Argh!

To me, the worst part is not even the subject of argument but the assumption by my daughter that regarding ______ she knows better than me.

I mean, come on.

I'm 30. She's 13.
I'm father. She's daughter.
I'm a man. She's a kid.

How you can kill envy and jealousy in one step.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Its not a competition. But I know he's doing better than me.
We're on the same team. But he's such a better speaker than I am.
I love my blog community. But I wish I had Jon Acuff's platform.

The 'bolded' is what I say out loud. The 'underlined' is what I sometimes think in my head.

Maybe I'm just not a super spiritual Pastor. Maybe I just have too much pride in my heart.

I wish I could say it doesn't matter. I don't compare what I'm doing with what someone else is doing. I don't know what's going on 'there'.

But truth is, I do. I compare. Constantly.

3 reasons why you need to be a Christian Ninja.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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A few weeks ago my wife anonymously did something really kind for someone.

While she chose to quietly celebrate the heart of what she did, I wanted to erect a billboard telling the world of her random act of kindness.

Its so frustrating cause I love to give but I feel like with my generosity comes this constant lust for recognition.

I know most of us read the bible for our neighbors [I really wish so and so could hear this right now] but when I read Matthew 5, I know Jesus is talking to me...

Does one have the right to read their spouse’s journal?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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This might seem trivial but years ago I got into a 2 hour argument with good friends over the issue of reading your spouse's journal.

In my opinion, nothing is off limits once you say I do. Including your journal.

I’m not saying it won’t feel a little uncomfortable if my wife decides she wants to wade through my journal. I’m just saying its fair game.

My friends on the other hand strongly disagreed...

The Comforting Walls of Our Hearts.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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[This is a guest post from Carmen (all the way from Kurdistan). I believe its the first international post on this blog so I'm pretty excited. Please show her some love in the comments section]

So I am currently in Kurdistan teaching English at an institute, and so far, though it's been very challenging and frustrating at times, it's been rewarding.

Some of my students have not been very cooperative, mainly because they think I'm a child, which may be true :).

It's been really humbling though, and I am learning more patience and more humility every day. And that's saying something, because these two qualities are not my strong points.

Why it matters to you that Jesus battled with sexual temptation Part 2.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:!5

Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are and YET he did not sin.

That my friends is tremendously GOOD NEWS in our battle against sin.

Because Jesus overcame sin, we CAN (in Him) overcome any kind of sin regardless of its nature, history or power.

I know. I know. You’re not Jesus. And you’re not perfect. Never will be on this side of eternity.

I get that. But in light of that reality, the bible still says (and this changes everything)...

Why it matters to you that Jesus battled with sexual temptation Part 1.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Yes, Jesus battled with sexual temptation.

He had to choose to look away because he was tempted sexually.

He also struggled with listening to his parents and getting up early for work cause he was tired.

He was committed to his mission, the cross and Gods glory but sometimes Jesus struggled with "the ~~American~~ Jerusalem dream" because he was a single, 30 year old, homeless man.

It was hard for him to watch his friends graduate from the University of Nazareth, get married and have kids. None of those things aren't inherently bad [obviously] but since it wasn't Gods path for Jesus, He had to choose not to settle...

The craziest thing I've ever heard about Gods love.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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I grew up in church so I've pretty much heard any and everything you can tell me about Gods love.

He loves us unconditionally. Got it.

He loves us in spite of our weaknesses, sin and baggage. Right on.

He loves us more than we could ever imagine. Amazing.

God loves us. I get it.

I'm not saying I fully 'get it' get it, just that I've heard it all. Well, at least that's what I thought until Pastor Bill dropped this bomb a few months ago. I can honestly say I've never heard or thought about Gods love like this before:

How to do a poor job in the name of Jesus.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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Since when is it okay to do a poor job in the name of Jesus?

When did the church buy into the idea that what we do doesn't have to be creative, quality or top notch as long as we staple a Jesus tag on it?

Remember when Jim Carrey fell off the Jetway in dumb and dumber yelling "its okay, I'm a limo driver"?

Yea, that's us. Doing a poor job but 'its okay, its in the name of Jesus'.

We know she can’t sing and he doesn’t have the gift of preaching but its okay cause its worship and the word of God so it shouldn’t matter?...

Should Christians use online dating?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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20% of relationships now begin online. That’s 1 in 5.

The world has come a long way from ‘check a box if you like me’ hasn’t it?

With a single click, you can be exposed to hundreds and thousands of singles in your area. I’m not talking about weird, secret, creeper dating sites either [of course there’s tons of those].

I’m referring to legit, professional, culturally accepted sites. The other day I saw a commercial for a 'Christian online dating service';

'Meet singles who love Jesus in your area with just one click.'

To be honest...

I'm a thief.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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I'm a thief.

I stole from you.

I picked your pocket.

I ate my fill from your toils.

I slept in while you worked, only to steal what you worked for while you slept.

I live to exploit you...

Dear Christian, I don't hate u cuz of Jesus. I hate u cause you're a jerk ~Non-Christian

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:00:29 +0000

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'Gays for Jesus'.
'Prostitutes for Jesus'.
'Drunkards for Jesus'.
'Sex addicts for Jesus'.
'Drug dealers for Jesus'.
'Pimps for Jesus'.

Can you imagine those phrases plastered all over giant bill boards as you drive down the turn-pike?

I'm not taking about some kind of creative evangelistic strategy. I'm talking about gays, prostitutes and drunkards actually paying for such advertisements...

What God wants the most from us.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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Pop Quiz time.

No cheating. Honor system. Think fast.

What is the first word that comes to your mind when you read this question...

What does God want the most from you?

Before you keep reading, please take a minute to really think of an answer to that question.

Hint 1: Although it can be argued that Jesus is an acceptable response to every biblical or spiritual question, the answer to this question is not Jesus. But nice try :)

Does God want us to be healed all or some of the time?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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If you haven’t noticed, I try to create space for 'open' dialogue on Sundays.

The idea is to ask a question without giving away where I stand.

Although you might be able to pick up what 'camp' I'm in through my responses in the comments section, the hope is, keeping the content open allows you to more freely share your thoughts.

To be honest, I kind of stumbled upon this idea when I randomly asked if 'non-Christians can be in a worship band'. After that dialogue blew up, we tackled a question I've been asked a lot: 'Is masturbation sin?'...

Confessions Of A Divided Heart.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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[This is a guest post from Jerrilyn. She's been a huge part of this community for a long time and if you've ever commented, odds are she's prayed for you. Honored to share her thoughts. Dive in and dialogue folks]

I recently saw a cartoon clipping that had a woman and her four children facing a second woman. The caption read, “How do you divide your love between four children? She answered, “I don’t divide, I multiply.”

Psalm 86:11 "Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."

I’m sharing my heart with you today, in hopes that it may encourage you wherever you’re at.

I am one of the sixty-four percent or one in three people of our population, in America, who is either overweight or obese...

Why the world needs cocky Christians.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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Can you think of the cockiest guy you've ever met without your head blowing up?

If so, I want you to compare him to this cocky guy I met last year.

Sometime last summer I was playing a pick up soccer game with some random people when 5 minutes into the game, a guy walked off the field yelling profanities because according to him his whole team was so *bleeping* pathetic.

Now keep in mind this wasn't the world cup or a competitive league. This was a fun pick up game...

One way you can audibly hear God today.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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God spoke audibly to me on Saturday and I believe he wants to do the same to you today.

Here’s what happened.

Saturday was just one of those days.

I felt like I was running on E. I had nothing to give and the race just seemed too hard. I was tired and quite frankly I wanted to quit.

Quit ~~writing~~. Quit ~~this blog~~. Quit ~~dreaming~~. Quit ~~my new job~~...

Sam and Ashley plus 2.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:17:55 +0000

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So something pretty big ~~kind of~~ happened with our family. I guess I could just say it.

But I love being creative. And I wanted to tell our whole story in a way that makes much of Jesus.

So I made this video [after the jump].

It features Will Smith, Silly Americans, stuff white people like, 3 ways to marry out of your league, Lego’s, sumo-wrestling, ‘The Biebs’, The Who, Dora, Jack Bauer, Creed, George Bush, Yoda and much more...

MAWBP (My attempt at writing a blog post)

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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[This is a guest post from my good friend David Melton. He’s a 5th year Pharmacy major at UT. I’m letting him guest post on my blog so when he’s making more money in a day than most pastors make in a year, he’ll support me. J/K. Not really.]

I don't know if i am getting old or if I have always been completely oblivious to shorthand acronyms. (i wonder if there is a shorthand for the word shorthand?)

But lets be honest... who can keep up with these things? I swear people make new ones up everyday.

Here is a list of ones i found that are completely ridiculous...

Repent.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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"From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" -Matthew 4:17

Seems like the church has repented from repentance hasn't it?

I honestly don't remember the last time I preached repentance. I'm sure I could come up with a million reasons why but the honest truth is, repentance doesn't sell.

Grace on the other hand is easy to sell. So is forgiveness.

Just say you're sorry and God will develop sudden amnesia and no longer remember your sins.

I'm a disgrace to fatherhood.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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Got this email few months ago. It was entitled:

"You're a disgrace to fatherhood"

"How can you live everyday of your life knowing you have three kids somewhere and have not set your eye on them for the past 12 years? You don't deserve to live. And more also they hate you becos you were not there for them. I am doing fine with God on my side"...

Why its okay if you don't see spiritual growth in your life.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:53:27 +0000

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It's embarrassing I tell you. It really is.
I tried to fight it. I really did.
But I guess in the end, I just couldn't help it.

Less than 24hrs after I planted grass seeds on my dead lawn, I went outside to see if it was growing.

It gets worse.

Should this Christian have punched this guy back?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:17:05 +0000

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Few days ago I went disc golfing with four other friends and on the first hole, a random black guy with a trash bag cape walked up to us.

At first I ignored him cause I thought he was just gonna ask for money but all that changed after he swung and hit one of the guys in our group.

As we tried to respond to what just happened, he raised his shirt to show us that he was armed...

Jesus is the opposite of Taco Bell.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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Does Taco bell scare you too?

Few weeks ago, I went crazy and ordered like 10 things at taco bell and my total came out to about $2. I thought surely she got my order wrong.

'Nope' she said, 'this is T-bell and that's how we roll.

She didn't really say that. And 10 things might have been a slight exaggeration, but you get the point. Taco Bell is the closest to almost free food that you'll ever get and that makes me REALLY nervous.

5 awesomely bad *fake bible verses.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:00:29 +0000

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Few weeks ago a fellow Pastor friend did something that I'd never seen before while preaching about money.

He took some bible verses and rewrote them to fit our culture's philosophy of money.

I found his little illustration absolutely brilliant, uncomfortable, hilarious and challenging at the same time. I call it...

The one word blog.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:30:29 +0000

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One of my favorite spiritual exercises in ministry is asking people to think of one word that honestly describes the current season of their relationship with God.

Me first.

My relationship with God in one honest word:

Dear Christian, hang on a sec, I'm sleeping. -Jesus

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:56:07 +0000

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I wonder what it was like for Jesus to sleep.

Did he sleep and also watched himself sleep cause he's omnipresent?
You think he snored? drooled or rolled around in his sleep?

Did he ever have to get up in the middle of the night to pee or did he just supernaturally drain his bladder?

What about dreams? Do you think Jesus had normal dreams or crazy inception type dreams?...

Is Masturbation sin?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 10:30:29 +0000

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[Warning: If my title grosses you out, then please don't continue reading cause you're too young. If you're however interested, then you're old enough to dialogue although I'd HIGHLY recommend involving your parents/trusted adults in processing this with you. Parents, if your kids are older than 11 [especially male], chances are they already know about the 'M' word so please talk to them about it. They have questions. Don't let their college pastor be the first person they talk to about this 10 years down the road when they are sex addicts.]

A while ago I did a series on sex called 'four, five, sex' and during the dialogue I encouraged people to send in any questions they had about sex.

My hope was to put together a panel of sexperts to answer these questions.

While I was able to get one sexpert to write a guest post, putting together a panel to answer questions about sex proved harder than I imagined [actually virtually impossible] so I chucked the whole idea.

But after getting this question again and again and again and again and again, I decided to take a stab at it...

To Hell in a Hand-basket…Is Anyone Else’s Greatest Hits of Christianity Sounding like a Broken Record?

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:30:29 +0000

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[The following is a guest post by Lyssah. She's a great writer and has been a part of this community for a long time. Please dive in and dialogue as she definitely brings it in this post!]

My house is a mess! It’s dirty, junk is everywhere.

My kids are running around half clothed, out of control and I can’t tell the last time they have taken a bath.

The living room is falling apart, holes in the ceiling, the recliner won’t un-recline anymore.

Really, it's just beyond enduring…why doesn’t someone do something about this!
Better question…why don’t I?

2 guaranteed ways to solve any conflict part 2: R-rated prayers.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:41:51 +0000

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Have you ever cussed while praying?

Or called people names? Maybe screamed? Thrown your bible against the wall?

Ever say things in prayer that are opposite of what you believe? Like...

You feel like Jesus doesn’t love you and could care less what happened to you.
And God should strike down your neighbor cause he is a donkey?
Or you hope your boss goes to H-E-double hockey sticks?

I hope your answer to those questions is a resounding YES!

Before I say why, I’d like to review yesterdays exercise.

2 guaranteed ways to solve any conflict.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:15:56 +0000

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In the next 2 days, we're gonna talk about 2 sure fire ways to solve any conflict.

Now thats a big claim isn't it?

Ya! I know.

But I really do believe that these 2 principles I'm gonna lay out [one today and another tomorrow] have the potential to resolve virtually all conflicts thanks to the Apostle James.

Why don't we test my claim?

Dear Christian, you are homophobic, irrelevant and judgmental. ~Non-Christian

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 10:44:54 +0000

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Dear Students of The University of Toledo,

I’m writing to say I’m sorry.
I’m sorry for being hypocritical.
I’m sorry for being irrelevant, judgmental and homophobic.
I’m sorry that we’ve so often missed the point of what Jesus was all about (to be continued)...

True Story: When kids see Jesus and angels.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:45:53 +0000

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[The following is a guest post by Jessica Heaston. Its a little long but this is literally one of the most thought-provoking things I've read in a long time. It made me feel excited and uneasy at the same time. It will REALLY challenge your world view and I can't wait to hear your thoughts]

A little about myself.

God brought an amazing man into my life and after courting for six months he proposed. We got married a year later.

Believing that children are a gift from God and that they are born by His will and not our own, (Rev. 4:11), we chose to trust God in all areas of our life including birth control.

I was pregnant with my firstborn a month after we were married and on graduation day I had two beautiful little girls and had just found out I was pregnant with my third.

Today, I have four awesome kids ages 8, 7, 5, and 4.

Someone wants your grubs.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:45:58 +0000

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'The grass is greener'.

That's for sure.

Somewhere between the last fall and spring, a plague of grubs was unleashed on my front yard. I think its natures judgement on me for making fun of 'crazy flag lady' a week ago.

I'm kidding.

But for real, my front lawn looks like the patchy, sun-burnt head of a bald guy with a terrible comb-over...

Anthrax, Shotguns & other things I wanna tell my daughters future boyfriend.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:38:19 +0000

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Dear Bebe’s future boyfriend,

Don’t be afraid. This letter is not laced with anthrax and it will not self destruct in 2 minutes which would not be a far-fetched thought after our first meeting.

I know we might not have gotten off on the right foot with the whole me polishing my gun thing... but in all sincerity, even though the gun was ‘kind of’ loaded, I promise I mean you no harm...

Missionaries to Burger King.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:35:55 +0000

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If the prayer I prayed most growing up was the pre-rapture sex prayer then the second most requested prayer I made to the Almighty as a youth was 'Please do NOT send me as a missionary to Africa'.

The punchline of course was I was born and raised in Africa.

Don't send me to Africa. We've all been there, prayed that.

Sure there are some freaks who actually WANT to go to Africa but most of us don't, which is a problem cause we're convinced God is hurting for recruits so...

Dear Christian, Its okay to be a scared wuss.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:33:45 +0000

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"Dad, can you please leave the night light on cause I’m a little scared?"

I couldn’t believe my daughter said that to me on one of her first nights in her new home.

"Seriously?!?!. You’re 12 and we have 2 huge dogs. What in the world are you scared about? You KNOW nothing will happen. Now shut up, go to bed and stop being such a baby..."

Worship team tryouts: Agnostic drummer?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:30:00 +0000

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Few weeks ago I was in a conversation with my brother-in-law who is a worship leader about whether its okay if non-Christians are a part of a church's worship band.

Not worship leader... part of the band.

I know of a rather large church with a preacher you really like that didn't have a problem with having a drummer who wasn't a Christian when he joined the band...

The gospel according to washing toilet seats.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:10:18 +0000

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Riddle me this: My haitian daughter who grew up 9 years in an orphanage in haiti is a mini-germaphobe.

She won't touch a shopping cart until she wipes it down with wet wipes.
She won't use public library headphones without really cleaning it.
And she has to scrub her hands after every hand shake.

Okay so I made that last one up. But not this one. This one, as crazy as it sounds is true...

How to cuss your way through Campus Crusade for Christ.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:38:36 +0000

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I dare you to find someone who has a better story of their first Campus Crusade for Christ [CCC] meeting than the one I’m about to tell you.

My first encounter with CCC was 11 years ago at Fall getaway [a weekend retreat for students] and I‘m still embarrassed just thinking about it.

I am an extrovert but I barely knew anyone so when the staff asked the freshman to do a skit, I figured this was my shot to ‘shine’.

I had one line but by golly I was gonna make it count.

Long story short, I ended up cussing on stage.... at a Christian retreat. I called some guy a donkey!

Why reading the bible is like kissing my wife.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:13:50 +0000

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[This is a guest post from my new friend Hans. He is the lead Pastor of Resolved church in Australia. He loves Jesus, the church and kissing his wife (obviously!). He has also requested that all comments begin with 'G'day mate'. Just kidding. Although that would be super funny if you all did that. Just saying.]

If you have been a Christian for a while you have hit that wall at least once. You know the wall, the one where it is too hard to read your Bible because it is just like reading any other book.

It is stale, cold and dry.

I have hit that wall many times. Sometimes I read through my favorite books of the bible and I get nothing.

Well I do get something.
I get depressed.

I want my encounters with God’s word to be amazing like they were when I first became a Christian. I don’t know about you but when I am in this funk I remind myself of two things:

When God picks the fat kid first.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 12:14:08 +0000

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A while ago I wrote a blog post about how God is not fair because he sometimes will give your buddy more talents than you.

Rhonda, one of the blog regulars left this comment in response...

"...while you are entrusted with 100 and someone else is entrusted with 10,000, those 100 may be in more desperate need. So, while it LOOKS like the other guy got more, YOU were actually entrusted with more."

Its been a few weeks and I haven't been able to shake that comment because it reminds me that God is not only unfair but...

Junk in my Trunk.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:53:00 +0000

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There's enough adventure in my car trunk to give Narnia's closet a run for its money.
Here's a few of the many treasures lurking in the back of my Chevy.

A sOcCeR bAlL. hAlF a CaSe Of WaTeR. oLd EnGiNe OiL gAlLoNs. ShAm WoW. dRuM sTiCkS and... wait for it...tWo BoWlIngB bAlLs.

Yes, I have a lot of 'junk in my trunk'.

Speaking of junk, how crazy is that 150 years from now, almost EVERYTHING we own will end up in a junkyard. Everything. JUNK!

Think about that...

2 days, 2 mins & 2 fictional secs in heaven.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:55:32 +0000

Off

2:13 PM.
Walking home.
Burrito in one hand, Ipod in other.
‘Oh praise him’ blaring.
Stopped in my tracks.
Confusion. Fear. Terror.
Thick smokes cover sky.
Day becomes night.
100 bolts of lightening strike all at once.

Blind dates, Speed dates, SCL and Monkeys.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:25:42 +0000

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Friends and fans of SCL, fellow ‘anti-dentites’, welcome.

I feel like I’m on a blind date with y’all... except its also a speed date and its on the internet.

So yea, we’re on a blind, speedy internet date. I suppose I should introduce myself.
My name is Sammy A and I had a pet monkey in high school. *Awkward pause*

I’m sorry if that was too much information for a 'first, blind, speedy-internet date, it's just that...

White men can't dance.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:30:51 +0000

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Since no one else will, I'm just gonna say it:

Hey crazy flag lady, you're disrupting worship. Seriously.

I'm trying to assume the best about you here but its hard when I have to duck during 'how great is our God' cause your flag is about to poke my eyes about.

I'm not against flags.
I just don't know how in the world I’m supposed to explain crazy flag lady to my friend who is visiting for the first time...

Ugly People.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:32:01 +0000

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Fasten your seat-belts.

I’m about to take you to one of the deepest darkest corners of my soul.
Its embarrassing, nasty and I’m extremely ashamed of this part of me.

Most of the time when I hear a speaker for the first time, I ask the same question...

Pastors, Beer and Jesus.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:52:19 +0000

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Three pastors walk into a bar...

The first Pastor is only there to reach ‘sinners’ and he lets you know it by his ‘be in the world but not of the world’ t-shirt.

He thinks an ‘appletini’ is a tiny apple because he’s never had a beer. He’s a 30 year old ‘beer’ virgin.

If you pushed him, he’d admit that the bible doesn’t explicitly forbid alcohol but the bible does command us to be wise. Its really hard to disagree with his wisdom argument after he stats you to death...

Bikinis, Soft Porn, Masturbation & Face-book Part 2: A Rebuttal.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:54:14 +0000

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[The following is a rebuttal guest post from my good friend Chris. It's in response to my post from yesterday. Enjoy and please dive in and dialogue]

First of all let me say that I agree with Sammy. No, seriously, I do.

I was once at a huge outdoor Christian conference. This conference was in a field. In Texas. In the middle of summer. It was wrath-of-God hot.

As you can imagine, some of the ladies were not exactly, well, RESPECTFUL with their clothing choices. However, one morning the weather turned gray and rather cool.

That morning Beth Moore was speaking, and I’ll never forget what she said...:

Bikinis, Soft Porn, Masturbation & Face-book.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:09:26 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

[Note: I admit that my tone is a bit harsh. If I had to redo this, I’d be more graceful. I hope my tone doesn’t distract from my main point. I’d also like to note that I’m not challenging culture as a whole with modesty but rather our Christian family though I’m sure EVERY woman desires to be treasured. Also to everyone saying we need to love, I completely agree. Love is the only effective response but please remember that love sometimes is very stern. See Jesus in the gospels. Also please read part 2 (rebuttal) of this post for a balanced perspective. All in all, thanks for a great dialogue]

Hey there ________ [Fill name in blank if you've ever uploaded bikini or half naked pictures of yourself on Face-Book],

I know we're not like BFF's or anything but can I just be honest with you for 5 minutes?

Can I ask you a huge favor?

Please. Please. Please. Stop posting half naked pictures of yourself on face-book. Please.

I'm not sure what the reasoning is...

How to pick your friends and their noses.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:46:06 +0000

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You can pick your friends but you can't pick your friends nose'. -unknown author

I completely disagree.

You can definitely pick your friends nose. In fact, it's easy, just stick your hand up there and before you know it, you're digging for gold.

Got it? Good!

Now that we've settled how to pick your friends nose, let's talk about picking your friend over your friendship with your friend...

How to have a successful long distance relationship with yourself.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:39:31 +0000

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Dear Sammy,

Its Sammy from 1999-2003. How’s it going in the future?

2011? Wow. I can’t imagine what that’s like. Let me guess.
Your VCR’s play both ways so you don’t have to rewind VHS tapes anymore?
Amazing.

I bet your video game controllers have more than 2 buttons. That blows my mind.

By the way, you have a website? INSANE. You’re so much cooler than me...

Impossible 11.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:51:52 +0000

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Impossible is me being able to fully sustain our family financially doing what I love.

Impossible is me writing a book and getting it published.

Impossible is this crazy vision God is birthing in my heart for next year.

Impossible is starting an orphanage in Haiti...

Why you MUST hear the most cliche sermon ever preached

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:37:19 +0000

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Few weeks ago I preached the most cliche sermon ever.

I think if the entire church had fallen asleep, I wouldn't have been surprised. In fact I'm pretty sure I almost fell asleep reading the text.

I kid.

It wasn't that bad but it was SO cliche.

The topic was cliche.
The text was cliche.
The story was cliche.

And to top it all off, if you've driven by a church parking lot at least once, you knew exactly where I was going with it...

When God gives your buddy 4 more talents than you.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:13:37 +0000

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WARNING: What I’m about to say is pretty uncomfortable and odds are you have never heard your pastor preach this on Sunday morning but I believe its biblical. You ready?

God.
Is.
Not.
Fair.

I know that sounds whacky but its true.

If your definition of fair is everyone gets the same thing every time then I hate to break it to you but the God of the bible is just not fair.

Here’s one BIG example...

Where is God when good things happen to bad people?

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 30 May 2011 11:54:54 +0000

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I googled 'where is God' and auto complete offered to finish my sentence with the following options...

Where is God when:

...it hurts.
...you need him.
...bad things happen to good people.

All legitimate questions. All worthy of valid responses. All worth wrestling with.

But also, all too common.

You know what isn’t common and is also legitimately worthy of a valid response?

F. U. Pastor.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:54:11 +0000

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This is by far the most polarizing video I've seen in a LONG time.

As a leader, writer and speaker, I love to push the envelope.

I once ripped out pages from the bible during a sermon [I think only 3 people passed out in the crowd] and one of my favorite posts from this blog is when I said there are times when Jesus doesn't care if you cuss or tithe.

I love to push the creativity envelope for the greater good. And I typically appreciate others who do as well until I saw this video... [continue reading to view].

Great stories you never told part 4: 'C'.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:12:34 +0000

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Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...
I once was lost but now I'm found.

Jesus saves, redeems and changes.

My name is Sammy and...

Great stories you never told part 3: Prom.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:39:31 +0000

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There are very few words that can insight a vast array of emotions like the word P.R.O.M

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to experience the awesomeness [or awfulness] that is PROM cause that's not how we roll in Nigeria.

I have been in the states long enough though to develop a curiousity about this PROM you Americans go ga-ga about.

Yesterdays post was pretty heavy so we're gonna have a little fun today...

Great stories you never told part 2: Boat car drownings.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 24 May 2011 11:42:27 +0000

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Last night I had a dream that I was in a normal car that was traveling in the middle of the ocean.

I have pretty strange dreams so it wasn’t unusual to be riding shotgun in a ‘boat car’.

Well, it wasn’t unusual until we passed a boat that was submerged by heavy waves and I noticed people struggling to stay afloat as the heavy waves pulled them under.

Before our car driver could answer my question about whether we had life jackets in the car cause I couldn’t swim, our car was upside down and I found myself struggling to gasp for air...

Great stories you never told part 1: Happy hour.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:30:16 +0000

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Your story matters. I repeat. YOUR. STORY. MATTERS.

A Lot.

The good. The bad. The sad. The ugly. The mundane. The extraordinary. The embarrassing. The thrilling. The lame.

It all matters to God, but...

The 5th spiritual law: Now you die.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 17 May 2011 10:52:42 +0000

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The [Five?] Spiritual laws:

Law 1: God loves you and has a great plan for you. [YIPEE]
Law 2: You are sinful and consequently separated from God. [BUMMER]
Law 3: Jesus made a way for you back to God by the cross. [WOO-HOO]
Law 4: Salvation is free through faith. [YEE-HAW]
Law 5: Now you die. Or suffer greatly. Or lose everything. Or live till you’re 90 in perfect health. Who knows. Strap in. Joy awaits you. [HUH?]

Did you know that almost all the ‘good guys’ in Gods story [New testament] were brutally murdered? Check it out...

four, five, SEX part 6: Porn is like White Castle.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 12 May 2011 12:33:52 +0000

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Hey guys, Luke Shortridge high jacking this blog again… this time I’m talking porn! NOT because I am a porn expert but because Sammy asked me to… and basically I do whatever he tells me (next time I’ll get 3 coats of wax on your car boss, I promise).

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about the most hardcore guy I know. My buddy Josh is a Sergeant in the US Army. The guy is a little nuts (in an awesome Rambo sort of way).

If bullets started flying at me, my first response would be to wet myself… then I would run away like a little girl… flinging old ladies out of my way. But when Josh has been shot at, something in his brain tells him to charge after the bad guy.

He’s seen combat in Afghanistan and has biceps bigger than my neck...

four, five, SEX part 5: Hardest post I've ever written.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 10 May 2011 11:36:07 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

[Very Important: Please read all the way through.]

Ashley. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I failed you. I’m sorry I failed us.

I’m sorry I traded the best thing in my life for an hour of pleasure. I’m sorry I betrayed you. I destroyed everything we ever worked for.

I compromised the most intimate part of our marriage. I feel dirty, worthless and lost.

I’m supposed to be your hero but instead I caused you so much heartache. I’ve never seen you hurt or cry so much. The hardest part about this is knowing that nothing I say or do will ever change what I’ve done. You’ll always have a huge scar on your heart because of me. I’m so sorry.

four, five, SEX part 4: The 30 Year Old Virgin.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 09 May 2011 10:40:01 +0000

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When Sammy asked Sarah and I [Dave] to write an “epic” guest post from our honeymoon, I wasn’t sure if we would be able to find any spare time in between our constant love-making.

For those readers who have experienced God’s blessing of sex (and are now laughing hysterically), I am joking. For those who haven’t yet experienced that blessing, I’m pretty sure constant love-making isn’t even physically possible.

Maybe that’s just because I am 30 and past my prime, but I doubt it. Or maybe I need to start using Old Spice body wash?

four, five, SEX part 3: The gospel according to Luke the 'sexpert'.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 04 May 2011 11:57:48 +0000

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Hey kids, Luke here. I'm a buddy of Sammy and a fellow pastor. When he decided to blog an entire week on sex, the first person he thought of to ask for help was me.

Okay, that’s not really true but I’ve got two kids so that means I’m a self proclaimed "sexpert" (that’s a real word).

I once read that “sex is like nitroglycerin, it can be used either to blow up bridges or heal hearts.”

Ever heard the story of Alfred Nobel? He was a Swedish chemist and inventor who became absurdly wealthy patenting dynamite...

four, five, SEX part 2: Pre-Rapture Sex.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:09:04 +0000

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Dear God,
Whatever you do, PLEASE, PLEASE, do not come back until at least a day after I get married. Please.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

Would you judge me if I told you that was the prayer I prayed the most in high school?

For those of you still wondering if that means what you think it means, the answer is yes. I was praying that Jesus would not come back until I had sex. Don’t judge me... too harshly.

four, five, SEX part 1: Boobs.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 02 May 2011 11:46:53 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

This post is NOT ultimately about boobs. I just entitled it boobs because:

A. I wanted to get your attention.
B. If some random person googles boobs, my site will come up and they might learn about Jesus. Ha.
C. You’ve never heard a pastor say boobs out loud before.
D. I’m trying to break the ice before we talk about sex.
E. All of the above.

Now that I have your attention. Can I ask you a question?
Do you remember when you had your first sex talk?

I was 16 and the conversation lasted about 20 seconds. It went a little something like this...

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to two year olds

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:29:26 +0000

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But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” Matthew 19:14

I finished reading Love Wins last night… I could talk about the stuff I want to argue with but I won't. Too easy... ; ) Love or hate the guy, Rob Bell is an incredible story teller...

How I survived the earthquake in Japan

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:49:17 +0000

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Sometimes in order to mourn with those who mourn, you have to step in their shoes and imagine what it's like to be them.

47 days ago, I'm in Japan.
This is my story.

I’m driving home from work when I’m startled by a tremendous vibration. Feels like I’m in a pop can being shaken violently. I pass out.

Few minutes later I crawl out of my broken car window. There is no longer a road ahead of me. Just a valley and what seems like an endless abyss...

Confronting your destiny when your boss is pooping

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:51:42 +0000

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As a kid who grew up in sunday school, the story of 1 Samuel 24 was one of my favorites because it was a serious story that involved a guy pooping.

My wife thinks saying poop on my blog is kind of immature. I agree. I was gonna use the word 'feces' instead but it just doesn’t have the same effect so I’m just gonna use 1 of my 5 annual ‘say poop without consequence’ cards.

Here’s the quick gist if you’re not familiar with the narrative...

Dear Reader, You Are Not That Special -God

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:26:59 +0000

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Life is like a bully.

She’ll push you around, de-pants you in public, slap you in the back of the head, give you the mother of all wedgies, punch you in the nose, eat your lunch, mess up your hair, steal your pocket money, shoot spit balls at you, zap you with the biggest zit on your nose, whip... okay, you get the point.

Life is mean and sometimes you just want to give up.

But it’s okay cause God says you’re not that special. And neither am I...

I think I'm better than Jesus

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:28:08 +0000

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‘HE HATE ME'

In spring of 2001, XFL player named Rod Smith adopted the name ‘He hate me’ on the back of his football jersey. I thought it was absolutely hilarious.

But I could never do it.

To be frank, the thought of someone hating me makes me want to crawl up in a cave and suck my thumb. I hate, repeat, HATE being hated.

On a ‘how do you respond to being hated/criticized’ scale of 1 to 10 -with 1 being brush it off easily and 10 being I go nuts- I’d rank a 15...

Dating, Divorce, A La Carte and Dan from Sanctus Real Part 6

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:20:24 +0000

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This was an incredible week of conversation! When Sammy approached me with this idea, I had no clue what to expect.

I'm so encouraged by how respectful and open everyone was. I felt it was a great reflection of how we should treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.

At the beginning of the week, I showed Emmitt Fowler, a friend at FamilyLife Ministries, what was happening with this blog and asked if he had any resources we could point people to. Here's what he responded with:

Dating, Divorce, 3 Things and Dan from Sanctus Real Part 5

Sammy Adebiyi — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 15:30:10 +0000

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The following is part 5 of 5 emails exchanged between my friend Dan [bass player of Sanctus Real] and I over the last month. We talk dating, divorce and marriage. Please read my last blog posts for context. Enjoy.

Hi again,

So these last few days, I’ve been trying to pinpoint the things I now look at differently when it comes to finding a spouse.

There are plenty of great, godly resources out there on the subject, so I’ll leave the advice giving to the experts and only share about 3 areas in which I learned some powerful lessons.

These are things I didn’t realize the weight or impact until after I was married...

Dating, Divorce, Hezekiah and Dan from Sanctus Real Part 4

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:13:06 +0000

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The following is part 4 of 5 emails exchanged between my friend Dan [bass player of Sanctus Real] and I over the last month. We talk dating, divorce and marriage. Please read my last blog posts for context. Enjoy.

Hola Sammy!
Alright. First things first…I grew up in the church. I’ve known the “Book of Hezekiah” trick longer than you’ve been an American.

You think you can bring weak game like that into my house? (Does anyone still say “weak game” and “my house”? How old am I? Where’s my ointment?) Book of Hezekiah? Come on now…

But anyways, you asked some great questions in your last email, which have led me to dwell on parts of my story in ways I previously hadn’t...

Dating, Divorce, Some Mexicans and Dan from Sanctus Real Part 3

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:36:30 +0000

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The following is part 3 of 5 emails exchanged between my friend Dan [bass player of Sanctus Real] and I over the last month. We talk dating, divorce and marriage. Please read my last blog posts for context. Enjoy.

Hey G-Dan,
Sorry for the late response. I was in Mexico last week spreading the love of Jesus, eating tacos 3X a day and having random people pet my dreads. For reals.

Would you believe me if I told you a random lady at a stop sign reached through the car window and petted my hair? True story.

Crazy how much Mexicans love them some dread-locks. Plus everyone called me Bob Marley everywhere I went. I was flattered until they made pot smoking gestures.

Anyways. Great email. Thanks for your honesty. I really appreciate it, but if its okay with you, I’d like to prod a little more because to be honest, this whole divorce thing freaks me out. Really does...

Dating, Divorce, Some Muppets and Dan from Sanctus Real Part 2

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:05:37 +0000

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The following is part 2 of 5 emails exchanged between my friend Dan [base player of Sanctus Real] and I over the last month. Its long but worth the read. Today Dan talks in more detail about his divorce. Please read my last blog post for context. Enjoy.

Hey Sammy,
I’m almost over my Grammy hangover. Hang on…

Aaaaaaannnnd…

Cool. I’m good now. I was out partying with CeeLo’s Muppet band, drank too much Kool-Aid, ate too many cupcakes, and fell asleep in the bathtub. The Bieber ninjas showed up. They were rad…showed me nunchuck moves. It was one wild night. I didn’t get to bed until midnight!...

Dating, Divorce, Some Ninjas and Dan from Sanctus Real

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:19:14 +0000

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The following is part 1 of 5 emails exchanged between my friend Dan [base player of Sanctus Real] and I over the last month. We talk mostly about dating, marriage and divorce with some ninjas sprinkled inbetween. Enjoy.

Dan,
Hey bro. It’s Sammy. I just wanted to email you so I could tell all my friends that I once emailed a “Grammy nominated” artist. So yea, if you could please respond to this email signed “Grammy nominated artist who was in the same room as Usher, Justin Bieber and Eminem”, it would make my day.

By the way, what did you do when the Beiber ninja's showed up?...

Do good Christians watch TV?

Sammy Adebiyi — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:16:15 +0000

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Ashley and I are in the process of establishing some boundaries and structures to how much exposure our family has to TV.

We're not sitting on the couch watching MTV all day so that's not what I'm talking about.

When its not on ESPN [dad has the remote] or HGTV [mom snatched the remote], then its on disney channel [bebe stole the remote].

For the most part, I've been comfortable with us camping on mostly those 3 channels but I'm starting to rethink that [some disney shows] especially in light on raising a child...

Adoption.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:56:27 +0000

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Sometime soon I'll write in detail about the highly unlikely, impossible miracle of Bebe's adoption.

But for now, I'm going to the court house to 'officially' become a dad to bebe.

Folks, impossible is nothing. [Video after the jump]

Out of the picture

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:32:45 +0000

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Last night my daughter had the mother of all meltdowns. It wasn’t anything that I was prepared for when I brought her into my home 8-1/2 months ago from Haiti.

It had been brewing for quite awhile.

At the core of it was her sense of not having control and having watched her life change dramatically all the time for all of her life. As she threw every kind of verbal assault that she could at me, I could see the pain she was experiencing finally laid out bare – and she wouldn’t let me get near her...

How to find life-changing hope through football

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:31:49 +0000

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Tired? Lonely? Beat up? Stuck? Depressed? Broken? Sick? Bored?
Cancer? Divorce? Unemployment? Foreclosure? Bankruptcy?

Breathe. Hope is here. 2 words: WE WIN.

3 years ago someone gave away the score of a football game I was hoping to watch later. Brazil beat the US 3-2. Crazy. If you don’t know much about soccer, let me put it this way, a 3-2 score is the equivalent of a 140-138 basketball score.

Fail.

Sammy Adebiyi — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:32:39 +0000

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Few years ago I had an idea to launch a national movement of students committed to being a voice for the voiceless. It was called 35students. We had a website and shirts.

The website was never renewed and I still have a bin of shirts in my basement.

Last year I spent 40 minutes casting a compelling vision to students for why our ministry needed to move its meeting space into a bar. The idea failed miserably and we were back within a month. It felt like going from dating to engaged back to dating again...

5 Truths and a lie

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:45:50 +0000

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The following happened to me while I was in Mexico. 5 are true and 1 is a lie.

1. A waiter said to me ‘this might be weird but the lady behind the grill is wondering if she can touch your hair’

2. While I was at a stop light, a random woman walked up to the truck, reached through the window and started petting my hair.

I'm not good at being black

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:54:31 +0000

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Is God good or is He just really good at being good?

I grew up thinking that God was just really, really good at being good. You know, like Michael Jordan was really good at basketball. Yea, God was like the MJ of being good. The best. No one’s good could contend with his good.

But then 10 years ago I had a thought that changed everything...

Dr Phil, hot sauce mom and your nosey friends [Part 2]

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:53:29 +0000

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Ever met someone that admitted they were currently deceiving themselves?

I haven’t.

Self deceit is incredibly hard to see in the mirror because well, that's the point. We choose to see what we only wanna see.

Hopefully the last post at least sparked a desire in your heart to be honest with yourself. I’m hoping today's post is a lighthouse that helps us navigate through the murky muddy waters of decision making.

Below are 10 red flags on the journey of heart. They might be blunt and in your face but that's because you don’t need a hug when you’re driving off a cliff. Here we go....

Dr Phil, hot sauce mom and your nosey friends

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:37:43 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

Was channel surfing a few weeks ago when I ~~accidentally~~ caught an interesting episode of Dr Phil. Alright fine, It wasn’t an accident. I sometimes choose to watch Dr Phil.

Before you judge the ‘Dr Phil’ speck in my eye, make sure you take that ‘bachelor’ log out of your eye bro.

Or sis.

Anyways, I was watching the ‘hot sauce mom’ Dr Phil episode. Hot sauce mom was a woman who...

Doubt.

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:53:09 +0000

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Sometimes I doubt God is really listening when I pray. I doubt if my prayers really matter cause praying feels like setting off a balloon I'm hoping breaks through my roof, up in the clouds, all the way to God in the heavens.

Sometimes I doubt God really wants to give me really good gifts so whenever I get something I really want, I get scared cause I think he’ll take it away soon...

Death.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:39:36 +0000

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Death,

I hate you so much.

I do.

I try to ignore you, but I know you are creeping on me.

Someday soon you’ll strike me and my loved ones...

Is it time we finally label ‘Moses and the red sea’ a fairy tale?

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:14:01 +0000

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Sometimes I’m baffled at how Christians-myself included-respond to biblical stories.
Like how we read the story of Moses splitting the sea with a straight face.

LOL.

Seriously. I’m laughing out loud at how absurd that it.
Not the story. Our response.

So dude sticks his staff in the water and the SEA SPLITS IN HALF. And we just nod, say amen and go home?

Are you kidding me?...

How much does God weigh?

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:13:37 +0000

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For much of my childhood, I pictured Gods greatness in terms of weight. When I was 4, God was the only person stronger than my dad so in my mind God was someone slightly fatter and buffer than dad.

When I was 5, I realized God was MUCH larger than dad. He was like Andre the giant with super powers.

At age 6, God put on some major LB’s. Figured he’s gotta be bigger than Andre the giant because he created Andre the giant. He must be as big as a truck. Yes that's it. God’s like a giant truck size superhero in the sky...

Thank You, My Name Is Spanish.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:48:33 +0000

When I started this blog I envisioned a restaurant. 5 months later, I see a pot luck. Yes I host the gig, but you guys... you guys make it what it is. I grill hot dogs but YOU bring the good stuff to the party:

Corn-bread. Mashed potatoes. Baked beans. Garlic bread. Fruit salad. Rice. Steaks. Pork chops. Cup cakes. Ice-cream.

Tim. Ayla. ‘A’. Jerrilyn. Ali. Allie. Jennifer. Lyssah. Michelle. Preston. Vonda. ‘Jawa’. Skinner. Berta. Tim. Anthony. John. Jon. Amanda...

How to change the world with a burrito Or the one post I hope everyone reads

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:21:16 +0000

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Dear Zakuskans/Friends,

Last night was incredible. I’ve never been more tired from speaking. I got home and just fell on my living room floor light-headed and exhausted. I wanted to just crawl up in my wife’s embrace and ball my eyes out.

I was whooped!

But then I had a thought that slightly saddened but re-energized me...

2 legit reasons why you shouldn’t hate on Justin Bieber

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:36:25 +0000

This just in: Hating on Justin Bieber doesn’t make you cool. It only makes you a hater.

We took Bebe to see “Never say Never”. The easy explanation would be we went cause she really wanted to see it. The truest explanation would be we went cause I also wanted to see it.

Your opinion of me just went down a few notches? Bummer. Wonder what’ll happen when I tell you that I actually REALLY loved it. I did. And if you’ll stop trying to be ‘cool’, chances are you would too...

From George Costanza to Superman

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:21:49 +0000

Ever have a hard time seeing an actor in a different role other than the first one you saw him in?

Take Ross from friends for instance. He played Captain Sobel in ‘Band of Brothers’. The whole time I kept thinking ‘wow, Ross is in the army’.

George Costanza is another good one. I don’t care what he’s in, he’ll always be little bald georgie from Seinfeld to me.

What about Arnold the terminator who is now a governor? I wonder if the people in his office chuckle every time he says ‘I’ll be back’ or ‘get into the chopper’...

Why I hope my wife births an Indian baby

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:47:29 +0000

Off

What would you do if your wife who is of the same race as you births a child of another race?

True story reported on BBC and other reputable news outlets: black ‘Nigerian’ couple had white baby. See blog pic. Absolutely crazy!

Think about that for a sec.

Hubby is black. Wife is black. Husband ‘lays‘ with wife as the bible is fond of saying. 9 months later, black wife has a white baby with blonde hair. What would you do?...

What singles really want to tell their married friends

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:09:34 +0000

[This is a guest post from an 11 year old friend. She's not 11, I've just known her for 11 years. Ladies and gentlemen, meet my friend ashley or "a" as she's frequently known in the comments section. Oh, shoot, did I just reveal your secret identity? whoops...]

Hi. My name is 'a'. Have you seen the movie 27 Dresses? I'm basically Katherine Heigl in that movie. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride".

I'm a single girl who longs to be married to the man God has for me, but unfortunately, He hasn't united us yet. For the first time in my life I'm actually "OK" with being single (emphasis on first time)...

Dating: Questions & Answers Part 2

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:17:17 +0000

Wow. Yesterday was crazy huh? Phew. If you missed out, be sure to check out the dialogue in the comments.

I know there were some disagreements in the last post. Thanks for doing that respectfully. Couldn’t have gone any better. That's what it should look like when people who love Jesus disagree on non-foundational issues.

Also, I know it’s painful to follow the comments thread [who is responding to who and when?]. I’m sorry about that. We are working on implementing a more reader friendly comment format soon...

Dating: Questions & Answers Part 1

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:34:33 +0000

Off

Dear Zakuskans,

Welcome to my blog. I’m excited to follow up on Mondays discussions. Before we jump in, I wanna tell you a few things about this blog:

1. Dialogue is central here. I blog primarily to engage people in conversations. So read the answers to your questions but please dialogue through the comments. Follow up with my answers, give your answers to questions asked or simply ask new questions. I said a lot Monday, this gives an opportunity for you to hear from each other or anonymously tell a certain someone what you are thinking...

How to share Jesus by smashing a two-headed statue with a club

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:32:16 +0000

The following is based on a fictional true story:

Once upon a time in a land far away, there was a village famous for its extravagant and diverse idol worship. The Villagers worshiped everything from big idols to small idols to bronze idols to silver idols, even two-headed idols with multiple limbs.

One day a missionary came to tell the Villagers about Jesus but after years of rejection, he got dangerously creative...

nInE wOrD bLoG

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:08:20 +0000

I'm NoT aLRiGhT.

i'M bRoKeN iNsIdE.

hOw ArE yOu?

Why I wanted to fight a sex offender on wednesday

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:26:26 +0000

Two days ago I experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. I got a call from my daughter 5 minutes after she was supposed to be on the school bus.

“Dad. Come quick...”
“A guy in all black is chasing me...”
“I ran into Kelly’s house and he’s banging on the door right now trying to get in...”
“Please come quick!”

How to turn me into a cry baby in 5mins and 20secs

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:45:31 +0000

I’ll admit, It doesn’t take much for a movie to make me cry but this scene from 'dead poets society' has made me cry more than any other scene from any other movie I’ve ever seen.

Quick context: Robin Williams is an unorthodox teacher who challenges his students at a strict school to seize the day and make their lives count. He ends up getting fired by the school because of an unfortunate tragedy. This is the last scene of the movie...

God is powerful. Jesus is savior. Holy Spirit is lazy?

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:56:52 +0000

What would you do if Jesus were alive on earth right now?

And he lived in your state. You’re face-book friends. No, even better you’re real life friends. BFF’s. Room mates. Coworkers.
Jesus Christ. The son of God. Creator of the universe. Physically around you 24/7, teaching you, guiding you, loving you.

How incredible would that be? Seriously, could it get any better than that? Yes actually It could.

The gospel according to finding Nemo: Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine, Mine...

Sammy Adebiyi — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:41:56 +0000

I think one of the biggest differences between us and the Acts 2 church is that they believed that nothing was there’s and consequently met every need in their community.

We on the other hand are like the seagulls from finding Nemo...

How jumping on your bed for 10 minutes can turn into treasure

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:41:12 +0000

[This is a guest post from my friend Luke. Although I would agree with him that his hair is way worse than mine, I have to say that Luke has the most consistently funny and creative tweets/face-book status of anyone I know. It really is not even close. You can follow him on twitter here and be his Face-book friend here. Don't let his beard scare you]

Hey friends of Sammy! This is Sammy’s good buddy Luke. Much like your friend “S Dog” (that’s what I call Sammy behind his back) I am also a pastor… just a lot less cooler and with worse hair.

Interview with an Angel

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:39:22 +0000

Off

Below is a transcript of a real conversation I had with the Angel Gabriel.
By ‘real’ I mean ‘sort of real’. By ‘sort of real’ I mean ‘completely unreal’.

I am ‘S’, He is “A” and we’re on the official phone of heaven, the I-phone...

How to win a gunfight with an unloaded gun

I'm a Christian and I believe in Karma.

I'm not good at being black

Interview with an Angel Part 2

Jesus is the opposite of Taco Bell.

How to be satisfied without being the prettiest or skinniest girl in the room

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:48:44 +0000

Off

Ladies, there can never be a more beautiful you BUT there are always going to be a lot of girls more beautiful than you.

Before you punch me through the computer please understand that I’m not trying to be insensitive. I’m a dad to a 13 year old and it terrifies me that some day some guy, girl, or commercial is gonna make her hate what she sees in the mirror.

What’s just as aggravating is the solution that mainstream Christianity offers to the problem of self image...

An old friend, A new friend and A hot wife

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:44:34 +0000

Meet Geoff:
He’s an old friend. I don’t mean old in that I’ve known him for a long time [which is true] but old as in he’s getting pretty old in age. [Zing]

He’s also a husband, father and Pastor. I like to think of him as a younger goatee-wearing John Piper. Deep thinker, passionate theologian and lover of Jesus. All around great guy. He started a blog. I’d really recommend you check it out here. You can also follow him on twitter here...

The Real Housewives Of The Old Testament

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:15:15 +0000

Raise your hand if high school was the best season of your life.

Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

*Cricket

Just what I thought. Lets face it, high school was a social nightmare for most of us. The awkwardness. The cliques. He said she said. Gossip. Drama. It can’t get any worse socially. At least that’s what I thought until I saw 5mins of the real housewives of Beverly Hills. [Don't ask me why but I promise it was only 5mins]...

Laugh Out Loud Wednesday: Seven Flags.

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:39:49 +0000

If you read this entire post, you will laugh out loud at least once. I guarantee it. Not because I think I’m super funny but because I was 30% funnier 4 years ago when I originally wrote this, which is depressing. Enjoy:

One of my childhood dreams was to own the greatest amusement park in the universe. So today i closed my eyes and envisioned the happiest place in the universe!...

Confessions of a bebe-daddy

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 15:59:36 +0000

Off

Ashley and I officially brought our adopted daughter bebe home on the 1st of April. For the two months or so, she called me ‘Sammy’.

Then one day, she started calling me ‘dad’...

The most annoying question in the world.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:11:43 +0000

You already know what the most annoying sound in the world is [if not, click here] but I’m about to tell you the most annoying question I’ve ever been asked.

Rewind [Spring '00] :

5 reasons why you should stop reading this blog

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:22:15 +0000

You ever find yourself consistently self-sabotaging what you’re doing?

I do. For instance, I told my wife [girlfriend then] on the first date why she should seriously think twice before dating me. I’ve also encouraged students multiple times to consider not coming to the college ministry I’m leading.

Today, I’m about to give you 5 reasons why I think you should stop reading this blog...

How embracing the ‘S’ word strengthened my faith in God.

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 15:40:48 +0000

Off

Do you know the 2 ‘S’ words Christians like to avoid?

The first one is obvious. I was gonna use it in my title for dramatic effect but my mother-in-law reads this and I didn’t want to give her a heart attack. [Love u mom]. Plus I already kind of used it here.

There is however another ‘S’ word that Christians avoid like the plague and the weird part is, its in the bible. Can you guess what it is?...

My worst parenting moment yet...

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:32:48 +0000

There are some conversations I anticipated having when we adopted our 12year old from Haiti.

Be thankful for what you have is not one.

She’s 12. She grew up 9 years in an orphanage in a 4th world country. Now she’s in her own room, in her house, in America. She literally just went from nothing to everything...

Poser.

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:40:39 +0000

My wife has the ability to capture every significant life moment in a picture. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.
Sometimes I don’t even remember making the memory she captures. I think it’s a spiritual gift.

Most times I just shrug my shoulders and give her my patent fake smile when its camera time. But not this time. No fake smiles or picture taking today...

Spiritual Paralysis...

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:05:42 +0000

Ever felt completely paralyzed spiritually?

Like you suddenly realize how screwed up you are. How much you’ve screwed up.

You come face to face with your lust, anger, laziness, pride, insecurity. Not to fight. No, you’re on the floor bleeding and immobilized, beaten up by your ‘sin’. You struggle to carry the weight of your shame. Your guilt slowly crushes you...

Why having a pet rock is more biblical than you think

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:39:04 +0000

In Joshua God commands the Israelites to collect 12 rocks as a reminder that he split the jordan river before them.
What?
Really? Are you kidding me?
HE *gulp* SPLIT THE RIVER IN HALF.
They needed a reminder for that?...

Girls love cats, guys say they love cats but when girls aren't looking guys are kicking cats

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:02:52 +0000

Confession: I’ve been daydreaming about ways to harm a stray cat on my street. I’m sure there are a million ways to accomplish this but the tricky part is doing it without compromising my Christian witness. How do I remain a ‘legit’ pastor and rid myself of this menace?

Top 5 moments of the best Christmas of my life

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:46:07 +0000

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.

What do you get when you add a toilet seat to a Nintendo DS, a crying girl, Jesus and setting my daughters hair on fire?

Best. Christmas. Ever. By a long shot. Here are the details.
Top five moments of the best Christmas of my life. Enjoy...

Worst Christmas gift ever...

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:12:02 +0000

Last week I asked my face-book friends a life changing question.

“What is the worst possible gift I can get my wife for Christmas?”

The responses made ma laugh, cry and ‘de-friend’ some people from face-book. Just kidding about that last part. But really, i was blown away by some of the responses.

These are the top 10 suggestions of worst things I can get my wife for Christmas...

How to win a gunfight with an unloaded gun

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:02:41 +0000

Off

If you’ve never played paintball with junior high kids, u have to. Seriously. Its like playing basketball against me. Its easy, fun and you can do it with your eyes closed.

Anyways, few years ago I 'paintballed' with some junior high kids. Pretty sure I shot 5 kids within 5 minutes. But then I ran out of bullets. My gun was unloaded and I was out-numbered 3-1. I didn’t stand a chance, until I remembered the ‘surrender or die’ rule...

Devotion, Motherhood...

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:10:35 +0000

Hello, my name is Ali. I'm a children's pastor, professional artist, and most importantly wife and mother.

Being a mom has been the most exciting and challenging thing I've ever experienced. I use every ounce of creativity and intelligence I have, and sometimes it's not quite enough. I'm crazy about my kids, fascinated with them, and I think I learn more being their mother than I could ever teach them...

How to pursue your wife and miss the point

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:12:58 +0000

I love to pursue my wife in really BIG creative ways. In fact I make it a point to try to consistently out do myself when it comes to making her feel special.

But wait, before you praise me, allow me to make a disturbing confession about my heart.
Whenever I work hard or do something special for my wife, I start acting like Michael Scott from the office.
I want the city to throw me a parade while I walk around with my “worlds best husband” mug...

Letter to Christian-Republican, Unrelenting-Political-Facebook-Status-Updater Guy or Girl,

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:18:32 +0000

Dear Mr or Mrs Christian-Republican, Unrelenting-Political-Facebook-Status-Updater,

My name is Sammy Adebiyi. I’m from Nigeria. I inherited $50 million but I need your credit card info to access it. Just kidding. Its actually only $20 million but lets save that for another letter.
Right now I want to talk politics.
I know, sore subject.
‘Your guy’ did not win and ‘the guy’ in office is ruining everything...

Community: Sticking your hand in poop for a friend!

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:19:38 +0000

Off

As absurd as it sounds, I promise that the story I’m about to tell is true. Seriously people, you can’t make this stuff up.

Its freshman year in HS and I’m in boarding school in Nigeria which is the equivalent of boot camp for minors except your teachers are actually allowed to beat you.

And by beat you I don’t mean ‘spank’ you with a wooden spoon. I mean, teachers hit you as hard as they could with specially shaved branches [canes] they purchased [If anyone from Nigerian is reading this, feel free to confirm this. I think my haitian readers can attest to this too]...

Pimp my trashcan: When Jesus doesn't care if you cuss or tithe

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:43:17 +0000

Include this blog in the Most Popular list.

I don’t have the best house or lawn on my street, but I did have the best trashcan by far. I’ll spare you the detailed description of what it looked like and just put it this way; It was an IPHONE of trashcans in a world of Zack Morris brick phones.

And yes I often “accidentally” left my trashcan out for a few days after ‘pick-up’ just to show off...

Do you make this mistake when you pray?

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:14:48 +0000

You’re in a market at a 3rd world country. $30 Jeans advertised as $45 actually cost $20. How much do you pay?
Depends on how well you can ‘barter’.
The key is leveraging what you have that they want [money] so you get what they have that you want [product]. It goes a little something like this:

Predicting the future: Top Ten Things That Will be Different in the Year 2075

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:04:56 +0000

Off

The last couple posts have been a bit weighty emotionally so if its okay with you guys, I'm gonna dial down a bit and try to make 'a funny'.

I'm gonna hop on my Delorean and fly to the year 2075. If you’ve ever wondered what the future holds, wonder no more because I am about to tell you.

Below are the top 10 things that will be different in the year 2075. Enjoy, but don’t forget to tip your waiter...

Dad: Greatest hits.

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:42:02 +0000

Off

My Pastor asked me to speak last fathers day.

Rather than speak out of my extensive 2 month experience of fatherhood, I decided instead to reflect on my relationship with my deceased dad.

What came out was one of the hardest and most personal letters I’ve ever written. Its called ‘greatest hits’. Figured it might be appropriate after my last blog of going home. Hope God uses it somehow to speak to you...

Best birthday gift ever

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:41:51 +0000

Earlier last month my wife took me on a surprise date. During dinner she handed me an early 30th birthday gift in an envelope. My best guess was tickets to a Vikings game because that in my mind was the ultimate gift. At least thats what I thought until i opened the envelope. I’m not one to be short on words but I was literally speechless...

How to turn your most embarrassing moment into a legacy

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:25:22 +0000

11 years ago I got off a plane from Africa. I was a very different looking man then. I had a mini-fro, wore baggy stone-washed jeans, smelled like fish and talked like Mr Eko from lost. I was also a constant source of entertainment for my new american friends. Apparently its really funny when an African says the words *sheet* and *beach* because it sounds an awful lot like *you know what* and *you know what*.

John Reuben, Ipod winner and your favorite book of the bible...

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:36:59 +0000

Hey folks... Finally picked the Ipod winner, well, actually John Reuben picked it and boy was it random. Here's the video. Its a little long but watch it, enjoy it and try not to punch your computer cause you didn't really have a shot at winning cause of how 'random' it was. Just remember, we're all winners in the eyes of the Lord. 10 points for super corny attempt at encouragement? :)

We all end up at the mall...

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:30:49 +0000

30 is the new 20. Thirty is the new twenty! I keep telling myself that cause I turned 30 on saturday. The big 3-0. I feel old. No, I AM old, and that scares me more than you can imagine. I've always been scared of growing old. A few months ago, I wrestled with this life-long fear and here's what came out...

Getting dropkicked by John Piper!

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:53:04 +0000

Some quotes make you laugh, some make you cry and then some like this one from John Piper, dropkick you right in the ‘spiritual’ gut, Chuck Norris style...

2nd Best Question Ever [How to become BFFs with your favorite celebrity Pastor]

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:18:10 +0000

Andy Stanley wrote a book called “the best question ever”. You should read it because uh, it tells you the best question ever. And its a great book.
I love Andy Stanley, but I’m making a jump on him. I’m stealing and trademarking “the 2nd best question ever” so when he decides to write a sequel to his book, his agent will call him and be like ‘dude Andy, some Nigerian guy already trademarked that title’...

White men can rap...

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:22:33 +0000

Quick thoughts...

* Great dialogue on the last post guys. Really great stuff. I haven't posted in a while partly because I didn't want to interupt the conversations. Love it. You guys are so gifted in so many unique ways. God is truly awesomely creative...

Stop acting like you're not good at anything...

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:43:52 +0000

Off

What are you good at?

Its a simple question but answering it feels like I’m undergoing a root canal on a roller coaster while my elbows are sitting in boiling grease. Painful!

Its not because I don’t know what I’m good at but because I always thought acting like I wasn’t so confident about what I was good at was the humble thing to do.

I’m starting to realize that acting like i’m not good at anything is just that, acting. Its not humility.

How to cure your zits without feeding your dog Chipotle

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:10:08 +0000

Off

I used to think Zits were caused by oily hands and dirty germs on your face until my daughter informed me that zits were in fact caused by not feeding your dog.

She said in haiti whenever you are eating and a dog sits next to you to beg for food and you don’t feed it, if the dog stares at you long enough, a zit pops up on your face...

Confessions of a former WWF wrestler wanna-be

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:53:13 +0000

Most guys grew up having sports fantasies that involved them being Michael Jordan. Not me. I wanted to be hulk hogan, hands down. It wasn’t even a contest. I not only dreamed of wearing head bands with my name on them but I often pictured myself walking in a room and ripping my shirt in half while scores of people cheered loudly, apparently unfazed by the fact that all I had on were yellow undies...

YOU ARE MY DENSITY!

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:45:30 +0000

Hey online friends... Long time no blog. Man, I really missed u guys. A LOT.

I know that might seem extreme cause we just met. I guess it was love at first blog. I’d like to say I prayed about it but the truth is, you had me at subscribe. YOU ARE MY DENSITY. You complete me. And if loving you is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right...

B.F.F'S PART 3 [MY BEST FRIEND LOVES JESUS MORE THAN YOUR BEST FRIEND]

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:47:37 +0000

Would you jump off a bridge if your friends did?

Whoever came up with that question deserves a top spot in the parenting hall of fame because every mom in history has said that to their kids at some point; except for maybe Mary cause you know, her son walked on water which means he could probably fly if he wanted to...

B.F.F’s PART 2 [MY BEST FRIEND IS BETTER LOOKING THAN YOUR BEST FRIEND]

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:43:54 +0000

I don’t know how everyone else become BFF’s with their BFF’s.
Me? I asked. Yes. 11 years ago, I literally started asking people if they wanted to be my BFF.

The first two people I asked said no. The 3rd said yes. His name is Royce Baker. We’ve been friends for 11 years since. We lived together for 5 of his 8 year undergrad studies...

B.F.F'S PART 1 [MY BEST FRIEND CAN BEAT UP YOUR BEST FRIEND]

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:28:44 +0000

Off

Meet John. Best Friend Forever. Yes that is really him in the picture. [Click the image, enlarge it, be in awe of his 'temple'. But ladies, don't look too close or u might stumble].

John was a former body-builder. He doesn’t quite look like that anymore but don’t be fooled, he’s still packing, so if John and I ever got in an altercation with you and your best friend, you’d better run.

Why getting beat up in a dream reminds me of marriage!

Sammy Adebiyi — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:08:07 +0000

Marriage is hard. Period. Doesn’t matter if you married the Apostle Paul, Jonathan Edwards and BIlly Graham mashed in one. Marriage is hard and it has nothing to do with your spouse...

Hi, my name is Sammy and I used to be a 'pretend' Pastor!

Sammy Adebiyi — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 01:00:21 +0000

I got ordained last sunday, which is like going from being a ‘pretend’ Pastor to being a ‘real’ Pastor. Thats right folks. I’m a ‘real’ Pastor now. Things are gonna be different. Here are the top 10 adjustments I have to make or the top 10 things you may or may not know about your Pastor. Enjoy!

When your good life is bad and your bad life is good

Sammy Adebiyi — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 15:11:43 +0000

What was the hardest time of your life?
Mine was the spring of 2000.

I remember telling someone I felt like I was alone, standing on a dock the size of a pizza box, in the middle of the ocean. At night. In a storm. With no sign of shore. And I couldn’t swim.

Sometimes you have to go commando to be in Gods story!

Sammy Adebiyi — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:08:13 +0000

Off

My daughter has tons of funny stories from growing up in an orphanage but the one where someone tried to trade their underwear for her chicken might be the funniest [She’ll kill me for telling this story]...

What happens when an IPAD steps on a Goomba?

Sammy Adebiyi — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:53:11 +0000

Off

10 years ago, when I said I was Nigerian, people cheered. Then they asked me if I walked around naked and played tag with monkeys growing up. [Thanks to the Lion King for shaping 90% of how Americans view Africans].

Today when I say I’m from Nigeria, people clench their wallets. Then they assure me that they can’t help me with my $50 million inheritance. [Thanks to the Nigerian scam emails]