ያመነበት ፍጹም ከውጪ አይጣልም
ከከበረው እጁ ማንም አይነጥቀውም
አጥብቆ ይይዛል በኃያሉ ፍቅሩ
የምህረት አምላክ ነው እና ርህሩህ

https://youtu.be/lDJvdvCgyuk?si=iZrL3MiffYo88yDx

“When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”

- Luke 5:11 (NASB1995)

@Born_Crucified

Ergaa araarasaati
namnii badee hin hafuu (x2)
Ilaa jaalalaasaati
Nabarsisee safuu

-Addisu Wayima

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSaKQdGP42I

One more year, Lord.

“And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ””

Luke 13:8-9 (NASB1995)

Dig us around, put in fertilizer - give us one more year, Lord.
One more year to please you.
One more year to be productive.
One more year to be fruitful and glorify you.
One more year to make the name of Jesus famous.
One more year to live a life that reflects your life.
One more year to love our neighbor.
One more year to crucify our flesh.
One more year, Lord.

@Born_Crucified

Turn and look at me, Lord.

“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Luke 22:61-62 (NASB1995)

Turn and look at me, Lord.
For your gaze reminds me your words.
Your very last words for me
That I am weak by myself.
That I will betray you three times.
If not many times.
Turn and look at me, Jesus.
For your gaze destroys my pride.
It crucifies my secret sins.
Your gaze burns my stubbornness.
It kneels me down in ashes.
Your gaze exposes my hypocrisy.
I cannot unsee it once I see you.
Your gaze does not just convicts me of my repeated mistakes.
It breaks me into pieces.
I’m but pieces.
Broken pieces - beyond redemption?
Or in need of redemption.
And I know.
I won’t be mended till you turn to me again.

Turn your eyes to me, Jesus.

@Born_Crucified

Nostalgia 😊.

How many childhood heads have captured this melody?

@Born_Crucified

"Let's listen to the audio bible."

“Yes, let’s do that. Can we start with Ecclesiastes?”

“But I am just leaving the office. Could you wait for me for a few minutes?”

“Sure, I will wait for you while listening to a debate in ClubHouse.”

“What is the debate about?”

“It’s about Calvinism. I am debating with this person who supports Calvinism.”

“You love debunking Calvinism. Go, get him!”

“I will continue that later. Let’s listen to our audio bible. Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am ready. 1, 2, 3!”

“Vanity of vanities; all is vanity…”

@Born_Crucified

“So what is your vision for the next 10 years?”

“To be a missionary somewhere in Africa.”

“Great. Where exactly in Africa?”

“I am not sure but it could be in Eritrea. I could become a missionary-spy too. Maybe orchestrate a coup d'etat against the Eritrean regime.”

“Why do you always connect our conversations with your plan for military coup in Eritrea? You are crazy.”

“Jokes aside. It will be great if I become a missionary. Will you join me?”

“I will. Wherever you go, I will go. I want to serve Jesus and make His name famous.”

“And also plan a coup d'etat against the Eritrean regime someday?”

“Stop that!”

“Hahaha...”

@Born_Crucified

Will Orthodox Christianity Surpass Protestantism in Ethiopia?

"Based on the estimated trend and assuming it continues linearly, it’s difficult to precisely predict when Protestantism might overtake Orthodox Christianity in Ethiopia. However, if the current trend persists, it’s plausible that Protestantism could surpass Orthodox Christianity in Ethiopia within the next few decades, perhaps around the late 2030s to early 2040s.
...
Consequently, with the combined effects of exponential Pentecostal growth and the perceived failure of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in politics and culture, many anticipate a significant decline in Orthodox Christianity’s membership in Ethiopia. However, I must confess that I do not share this general assessment. I have reasons to hold a different perspective."

Read my latest article "Will Orthodox Christianity Surpass Protestantism in Ethiopia?"

https://horntheology.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/will-orthodox-christianity-surpass-evangelicalism-in-ethiopia/

Nine Kids?

Let’s go to Tanzania and buy land to live.
Or travel to Ogadenia and build a school for kids.
Wherever it is with you, darling, I’m ready to be.
I want to spend my life with you, that's my decree.

Are we going to church this Sunday morning?
We can attend a service at First Baptist Atlanta, darling.
Let me hold your hands as we sit together at church.
I stare at your white, blue-black dress as we listen to Dr. Anthony preach.

Which book shall we delve into this week, my sweet dove?
Is it 'The Right One' by Jimmy and Martin, for our love?
Also tonight, let's watch Dave Ramsey's few episodes.
Let's talk about our financial plan - our 7 baby steps.

Darling, don’t go away before we finish our chat.
Or before we build Bethlehem Schools in Tigray
In the land we bought from your grandparents.
Don’t leave me before we walk down the road in Tenwek
In that cold mountain, before the day turns dark.
Don’t go before we become missionaries,
And before we have our nine kids.

Nine kids?

@Born_Crucified

The Almost Life (a note to myself)

Where are you?
“Almost there.”
Liar.
Remember, you were almost married.
Almost rich.
Almost happy.
You start but don’t finish.
You plan but won’t accomplish.
You run, won’t reach.
You read, yet your shelf is empty.
Almost a scholar.
Instead you ended up as a liar.
Where are your morning routines?
Your New Year resolutions?
Your five year plan?
Were you able to maintain?
No?
Or are you almost there?
"Almost there" or almost there?
Are you still giving an excuse?
Or fighting the procrastination?
To be there.
To get married.
To be happy.
To be rich.
To be a scholar.
Kill the ‘almost’ and be there.
Otherwise you'll live in the 'almost'
Without reaching your destination.
And when you go into deep sleep someday, soon
You may wake up, God forbid, to say, “almost heaven.”


@Born_Crucified

Beneath Da Vinci's Table

Sometime ago I had a dream that left me confused.
I saw Peter, John and James.
And all the apostles including Judas.
At the famous Leonardo Da Vinci table.
Having meatloaf and wine.
Gathered to dine.
I saw all of them smiling.
It was a picture so beautiful.
Except that I couldn’t find Jesus in the middle.
Where is Jesus?
I asked, “Is this a scene between Good Friday and Easter?”
Weren’t they scattered and in fear?
Also what’s Judas doing here?
If not, when was this?
More importantly where is Jesus?
I then tried to look the details in depth
As I stared on the picture,
Through the smiles of John and Peter,
Something felt strange.
In that wide table.
All of them were looking down.
Beneath.
Again, I got closer to see.
And I saw Him!
Beneath all of them,
Under the Leonardo Da Vinci’s table
There was Jesus holding a towel
and jar of water,
Washing everyone’s feet.
Cleaning the dirt.
He wasn’t in the picture,
He was beneath it,
He wasn’t in my dream painting
He didn't want any attention.
But He took everyone's.
At the level of everyone's feet
There was the servant
Avoiding scenes
Cleansing sins.
Beneath.

@Born_Crucified

Waking up everyday to see this at OPD.

@Born_Crucified

Should we write off Abune Petros?

"Those who celebrated the deportation of this man, are celebrating the silencing of the church. There is no reason that the government that deported Abune Petros today will not kill Pastor X tomorrow. History tells us that before Derg imprisoned and killed Rev. Gudina Tumsa of EECMY, it killed Abune Tewophilos of EOTC. The evil that is knocking on EOTC’s door, will definitely knocks the evangelicals' someday."

In my latest piece, I argue that we should not write off Abune Petros and I give three reasons why. Read the full piece by clicking the link below.

https://horntheology.wordpress.com/2024/02/07/should-we-write-off-abune-petros/

Friends, two weeks after I had published my article, 'Will Orthodox Christianity Surpass Protestantism in Ethiopia?', BBC just did an incredible analysis on Orthodox Christianity in Ethiopia titled, 'Are Ethiopians losing faith in their Orthodox Church?'

BBC also interviewed different analysts including Dr. Jörg Haustein, professor of World Christianity at the University of Cambridge.

I am glad that this conversation is gaining a mainstream cover. The discussion should continue.

You can listen to BBC's cover of the topic using the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4wf6

This live worship by Lidia Anteneh brought me to my knees in reverence and gratitude of God's goodness. I couldn't stop listening to it.

Give it a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wyXSU3AX0Q

From which book is this taken?

The first three people who will get this answer will have a prize. 😊

Hint: the book was published in 2015 (9 years ago).

@Born_Crucified

What is happening in Amhara region is truly heartbreaking! People are massacred in broad daylight. Some blame drones, others blame insurgents. In the end the innocent pays the price.

It is a region with a vast majority of the population being adherents of Orthodox Christianity. The Orthodox church has a huge role to play to reconcile or to push for a dialogue between the warring parties. It has the necessary resource and influence. It is true that these kinds of advocacies do not come without a price. However, a price paid for peace is the price for the incarnation of true children of God (Mat 5:9).

I understand that Orthodox Christianity is under huge pressure from either side. The insurgents want the Abunes to advocate on be half of them just like what Abune Lukas did. On the other hand, the government is pressing the church to follow its command and support them in the war in Amhara. Recently an Orthodox priest composed a hymn for Abiy and sang it before a crowd. The church is obviously divided.

Here is my humble recommendation, there is still a room for Orthodox Christianity to advocate against war without taking sides while resisting the pressure coming from either side. Truth does not exist in either side. Truth exists with the innocent civilians who are being massacred on daily basis. The church demands a network of advocates who cry out to God, to the people and to the warring sides to stop the war - for God's sake!

@Born_Cruified