Who Are God's Chosen Vessels?

[A Lady and Gentleman mount the stage to minister a spoken word poetry to a Church congregation]


Musical Interlude - A Charge To Keep I Have by Charles Wesley

[Lady turns and faces the Gentleman]
[She begins with an accusation]

Stanza One
 [Lady addresses the Gentleman]


YOU have a charge to keep!
Dressed up all suit and tied
A Bible in one hand,
An offering in the other
You leave behind your family, friends and neighbours,
To catch the first bus so not to miss praises
You get there on time
Run to the front
Dance heartily to the song
"Yebeyi Wu din na y3,
Wedi nkunim ama yen!"
The Preacher Man signals the end of praises
"Chuuuuuurch! Tis time to hear the word of God!" he screams
"Turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 2 verse..."
Meanwhile your eyelids attempts hugs at each other
Clearly, they miss being in each other's embrace
Before we know it, you have danced your way into dreamland
"Amen! Tis offering time!"
"The choir would lead us with a song of praises"
In a flash, curiosity kills the cat out of your eyeballs
The sound of great music appeals to your consciousness
You hit the dance floor once again
And lit the whole place up!
The Grace is shared
And you exit the Church feeling blessed,
Or must I say refreshed
You depart with no Word in your heart nor ear
Whereas your unsatisfied soul continually hums to the songs past
What Word then would you deliver to the lot you left behind?
Is it the cliche "3n3 Asore y3 d3 butu butu!".
Or the unheard message of Christ?
You better start listening to the Word!
Read your Bible often!
Teach others His Word!
Who carries out the assignment if not YOU?
YOU are God's Chosen Vessel!

 



Musical Interlude - A Charge To Keep I Have by Charles Wesley

[Gentleman turns to face the Congregation]
[He points an accusing finger at the Congregation while speaking to the Lady]

Stanza Two
[Gentleman addresses the Congregation]

I alone cannot bear all the blame!
They also have a charge to keep!
Leave their beds without having a Quiet-Time
Cohabiting for the sake of gossip,
Splitting in times of conflict
Strangely, they stay awake throughout the Sermon
And when the Preacher Man screams "Love your neighbours!"
They shout the loudest "Amen!"
But in their hearts they despise one another
Rarely offer water to a thirsty neighbour
In times of trouble when you seek their counsel,
Instead of admonishing you with the Gospel,
They share instead their biased viewpoints
Who then cares for the flock if not them?
Who are their neighbours if not us?!
I bet THEY have an assignment to carry out!
'Cos THEY are God's Chosen!



Musical Interlude - A Charge To Keep I Have by Charles Wesley

[Both face the Congregation]
[Intermittently stealing glances at each other]

Final Stanza
[Both address the Congregation and each other simultaneously]

So then WE all have a charge to keep!
Kings and Queens
Husbands and Wives
Family and Friends
Young and Old
Masters and Servants
All who have breath
We have all being duly empowered by the Holy Spirit
Let us go into the World to preach the Gospel!
Let us uphold the duty of our Father and Saviour!
Let's do so in love, peace and harmony!
Only then would WE be doing the divine will of our Father
Always remember, that a charge to keep WE all have!
'Cos WE are all God's Chosen!

The Lord keep US as WE carry out His Holy assignment!
God Bless US All!


[Both genuflect in front of the Congregation in reverence to God]
[Both bow courteously to the Congregation as a sign of respect]
[Duo exit the stage] 

Musical Interlude - A Charge To Keep I Have by Charles Wesley

Composed by: Atsu Dogbey

HAPPY YOURSELF!

Of the many Monday nights I had endured, returning from work in one public transport (trotro) or the other, last night’s was supposed to be my best. It was an Easter Monday – a holiday for that matter. But guess what; it was the day I had an argument with my girlfriend. My punishment? Total neglect! No calls! When I attempted reaching her, my call kept going to our dear mistress at voicemail. I did not mind having a conversation with her though, as I was lonely and desperately needed someone to have a chat with. My only problem with Miss. Voicemail is her stingy nature - she only listens to your secrets and never for once spill hers. Even so, I was pessimistically optimistic. I continued to call my ‘lover’ but to no avail. 

Soon, it was night time and her neglect had gotten the better of me. I decided to take a lonely-man’s stroll down my street. My aim – to witness lovers do to each other, what I had intended for my girlfriend and I. I exited the house, with no idea of the exact direction to take. I paused outside the gate for a while. Looking from left to right and left again, like a law-abiding citizen.  

Then something caught my attention, it was the sound of music. I decided then, to take the path that led to the location where the music emanated from. A few metres away from my intended location, I heard the Disk-Jockey (DJ) speak into his microphone “Yo! Yo!! Yo!!! It’s a beautiful holiday! I can see some Shatta fans in the building! Some Sarkodie fans as well! Big up guys for passing through! Big up the lady in the white skirt, I owe you a dance after the show! Come and request a song you wish to hear!” And he continued unabated. 

I had the inkling to run towards the location, to see for myself, the fun others were having at my disadvantage. I listened however to my intuition and ignored the thought to run. I continued at the same pace. In about a minute-and-half, I was face-to-face with the beer-bar – were all the music and fun supposedly ensued. I could see the DJ jumping to the sound of the music he played with much enthusiasm whilst calling in for song requests from his audience. 

Now more than ever, what met my eye stunned me. There was not even a lingering shadow of a ghost at the bar. The bar was as empty as my love life was that night. Not a soul! But for the bartender and the overly enthusiastic DJ still calling for song requests from what I now observed were chairs. Were there guests I could not see? 

I approached him. He noticed me walking towards him and as usual, spoke into his microphone “One Shatta fan coming to make a request! Sark fans were are you?!” He continued his monologue until I got close enough, signalling him to lend me a listening ear. His face lightened up! “Shatta or Sark?” he asked, away from the microphone. I ignored him and proceeded with my observation which I carried across in the form of a question. “Why are you entertaining requests from chairs but seem to be thrilled by it” I asked awkwardly.

Mr. DJ’s answer to my question was priceless; “Masa!” he began “In this life, you for happy yourself!” As if to infer that I was keeping him away from his august guests of chairs, he replaced the headset on his ear and continued to hop at his music. He went further to communicate to his attentive chairs that I had requested a song. He played a hip-life song, in a bid to satisfy my purported request. I exited the bar, enjoying the music as I did. Smiling back at a few chairs there present. The chairs were indifferent. 

Immediately, I felt my heart grow lighter. I began to care less about my predicament – my girlfriend’s neglect. Across the street, I engaged myself in a dance. I danced enthusiastically, exhausting the few dance moves I had in the process. Then I got innovative; I amalgamated a few existing dance moves to create a hybrid collection. I sped along!

A gloomy-faced passer-by whom I suspected was also facing an ‘Easter-Girlfriend-Neglect’ situation gave me a you-seem-to-have-nothing-to-worry-about look. I noticed it and snapped “Brother! Forget whatever is causing you pain” I said to him, “You for happy yourself!” He chuckled and went his way. I bet he might be thinking I was insane. 

The DJ noticed me brightening up my corner with my newly furnished dance moves. He picked up his microphone; “Go Shatta! Go Shatta!!” I charged. I sustained a few steps, noticed I was repeating the same olds and finally rounded up. He was my only fan and I, his. I started for home feeling rather calm at heart and energized. Above all, I felt happier than I was a few minutes prior. 

This taught me an important lesson in life; NO ONE BUT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN HAPPINESS. Never allow the ties you share, be it family, friends or in my case a lover, deny you of the opportunity to eat of the fruit of happiness! You can achieve this only by adhering strictly to this simple truth, and I reiterate; No one but you are responsible for your own happiness!
.

·         So if he/she neglects, offends or jilts you; Happy yourself!

·         In sickness and poverty; Happy yourself!

·         Neither your job nor boss gets impressed by your works; Happy yourself!

·         If a chair is your only fan; Happy yourself!

·         Feeling depressed or alone? Happy yourself!

After last night’s encounter, I took an oath to forever ‘happy myself’ despite life’s many trials. And like the enthusiastic chair-DJ entreated, “You for Happy Yourself”. I hope you take that oath too.

Warmest Regards!

Atsu Dogbey

(Member of TDL)

Greater Love Hath No Man Than This!

He is He that bears our pain

Pays rapt attention to our prayers

Notices our predicaments,

And provides immeasurable solutions

His name is Yeshua HaMashiach, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

He taught us Greater Love

One that supersedes a mother’s love for her child

A Love that dines with nonbelievers

Neither restricting itself in the boundaries of religion

Nor resting solely on the shoulders of Israel

Yet we do seldom teach;

That His love discriminates against no one

He favours not colour, descent, language nor religion

His love is pure and sufficient for all,

Regardless

On that fateful day

Crucified on an old rugged cross

His pure skin suffered piercing

His innocent palms endured the all-pervading nails

He tolerated the scorn, all for the love of humanity

Before Him we stand, observing the cross

Its height reaching to the sky, teaches us to love the One True God

Its length across, teaches us to love all humanity

The greatest of all His commandments

Epitomised by He who lay down his life for his friends

Although our questions may countless be

Is He a mere man? God? Can it be proven?

Did He die? Resurrect? Born of a virgin?

Answers we desperately seek, through the many chronicles

Presented by the differing hands of transliterates and translators

Even so, Christ fulfils his promises

He who teaches us the will of the Holy Father,

Continually reaches out to us in times of distress

We honour this Holy sacrifice

‘Cos Greater love hath no man than this!

Happy Easter!

Atsu Dogbey

(A Member of TDL)