Okay. Okay...

I haven't forgotten about Irreechaa.

My latest article with Addis Standard wrestles with the tension between Christianity and Irreechaa, not as rivals, but as parts of one story.

I argue that the task of the theologian is not to demonize or politicize our roots, but to wrestle with them, to seek redemption rather than erasure.

Irreechaa and Christ: Beyond politics, beyond demonization

Read here: https://addisstandard.com/irreechaa-and-christ-beyond-politics-beyond-demonization/?amp=1

@Born_Crucified

Let’s talk about this album.

ጠብ እርግፍ ብለን የዘለልንበት 😅

Here’s the crazy ጴንጤcostal dynamic of the past two decades in Ethiopia. This album is now almost 18 years old. These two singers were once considered outliers by the mainline churches.

The main criticism against them was their singing style (though some also questioned the lyrical content). They led worship in a very local-breed manner: jumping like the Debub Omos and sometimes even pulling off Eskista like the Gojjams. They blended every possible cultural expression into worship and completely owned the stage. Despite the criticism, it worked, at least among the youth.

Fast forward almost 20 years, and now no one gets criticized for jumping, or even for blending cultural dance into worship. We’ve come this far. These days, Pentes draw the line somewhere else, on selling oil, renting guest houses, or sometimes casting out demons with karate moves (Gashe Bekele told me that one is okay).

This is the dynamic we live in: we embrace and we demonize at the same time. What we celebrate today might be what we condemn tomorrow. What feels unthinkable now might define the Pente movement in the future. Whether we like it or not, that’s the religious rhythm of our time.

Coming back to Ephrem and Kaleab’s album, it stirs something in me. It takes me back to a time when dancing on stage was the thing. Well, it’s not anymore. Ephrem and Kaleab aren’t popular now. I doubt if anyone listens to this album nowadays.

In 20 years, whatever feels viral or groundbreaking today will fade. New trends will rise. Our debates will die out and be replaced by fresh ones. Our religion will keep evolving, shaped and reshaped by countless forces.

Our role? To be part of the conversation. To walk the journey in some way.
May we live long enough to appreciate it all.

@Born_Crucified

Pray for the Horn of Africa.

Not to scare anyone but I have a deep sense that the next few weeks will be decisive for the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Will a full-blown war break out? Sadly, it’s becoming increasingly likely, and perhaps inevitable.

Will it be soon? I fear it might come sooner than most of us expect. The Federal Government seems reluctant to just continue the war Amhara or to redo it in Tigray, while the Eritrean regime seems determined to provoke otherwise. This may soon make a direct confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea unavoidable.

I could be wrong as I’m not a political analyst but I feel strongly that whatever unfolds, we must prepare in prayer.

And with my small yet voice, I urge the Church to stand firm this time: to side with peace and justice, to refuse the intoxication of vengeance, and to continue loving our neighbors.

@Born_Crucified

On Eritrea and Eritreans, I wrote the following piece in 2020. I never imagined that our relationship would soon be eclipsed by regional war, fueled by deluded political gigantism.

“Eritrea once gave us the Bible, perhaps the first full translation into an Ethiopian tongue outside Ge’ez.”

What Would Onesimos Nesib (Abba Gamachis) Plead to Ethiopians About Eritrea?
https://hintset.org/articles/view-point/what-would-onesimus-nesib-abba-gamachis-plead-ethiopians-about-eritrea

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. ”

- 3 John 1:2 NIV

@Born_Crucified

Lord, stamp eternity on my heart.
አቤቱ፣ ዘላለምን በልቤ ላይ አትም።

"መዝገብህ ባለበት ልብህ ደግሞ በዚያ ይሆናልና።"
ማቴ 6፥21

@Romans148

Days are filled with sorrow and care
Hearts are lonely and drear
Burdens are lifted at Calvary
Jesus is very near

@Born_Crucified

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgkZznGP3dY

There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:

Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

@Born_Crucified

https://youtu.be/QF8sPZmP8fU?si=TcMF2n8TX0N6vPBG

ከአመጻ ብዛት ፍቅር ቀዘቀዘ
ሰው ወንድሙን ገሎ መቼ ተወቀሰ
አመጸኞች በዙ ክፋቱ ጨምሮ
ተላልፈው ተሰጡ ለማይረባ ዐዕምሮ

የድኆች ዳኛ የሁሉ አለቃ
ናና ከልከለው ለቅሶአችን ይብቃ
የናቶች እንባ ይላል ዋይ ዋይ
ሩህሩህ ጌታ አትመጣም ወይ?!

https://youtu.be/Su-_Jh_u4v8?si=3OUGjfnLYnCeOjMO

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

- Lam 3: 22-23 (ESV)

@Born_Crucified

Some good days. 😅😊

@Born_Crucified

Gammadaa Show with Abtew Kebede reminded me my article from 2020. If you haven’t watched it, I encourage you to do so.

Abtew Kebede, Sirba and Ethiopian Evangelicalism

https://curateoromia.com/abtew-kebede-sirba-and-ethiopian-evangelicalism/

Somebody please teach these AI tools how to pronounce “ቀ”.
The “ከ” just isn’t helping me worship along with the AI songs.

@Born_Crucified

So when are we going to go back to doing street evangelism, friends? Like the old times. I am not the shouting kind. I like to do it one person at a time. I like to approach that guy on street corner on his phone. His name is Fuad or Kibrom. It is as if he was waiting for me. I usually disturb his quiet time but I don't show him a tract so that he won't be turned off from the outset. I won't try to be smart as well.

I'd just start with something like “Do you know that there is life after death?” He would say “Yeah, I do.” or “How can you be so sure?” I will continue to tell him about Christ's resurrection and the impact. For Fuad, this will be unbearable somehow since as a Muslim he does not believe Jesus was crucified, leave alone resurrected. For Kibrom, he won't be impressed since he feels like he knows everything. I'd then describe the implication of believing this in personal level which I myself really believe in.

Other times, I will be just with my Bible trying to approach that homeless man on the streets of Lideta. I don't present a big life question to him. I'll just ask him if he is willing to hear me reading a portion from my Bible. Usually, such people are okay with it. I like to read from the book of Habakkuk. It's crazy right? I love that book. It's a great evangelistic tool as by the way. I read the first chapter where the prophet cries out to God about Israel and the injustice asking God to give him an answer. After reading the chapter, I will just ask the homeless man if he identifies with the passage. Usually he does. I also do. I then ask him to reflect on it. Usually he will do. Then I will pass to chapter two where in the begining the Prophet claims that the righteous shall live by faith. I then ask him what that means. Man, that homeless brother will tell stories. How he lives by faith. I then jump to the words of Paul on the substance of faith that is the person and work of Jesus Christ. After presenting the gospel in this manner I will ask the man if he is willing to pray with me. Usually he is.

But that was five years ago. It has been a while since I tried to do this. Do I believe in it? I certainly do. I believe that Christ is the Lord. I believe He rose from the dead. I believe that telling people about Him is a good thing. I also believe that telling people about Jesus fulfills the purpose of my life.

Why are we not doing it then? Why can't we just go out and enjoy telling people about Jesus? It's fun. We don't have to carry a mic. Not even a tract. I like to go bare hand or only with my Bible.

This Christmas. Tell someone about Jesus. Tell that He was born, died and rose from the dead. But tell them in a way that gives them comfort. People are distressed for many reasons nowadays. We need someone to comfort us. I don't think there's any thing as comforting as the gospel of Jesus Christ. It may not give every answer for the questions we have now, but it gives a peace that transcends all understanding. And that means everything for many people. Peace.


@Born_Crucified

I have a proposal for Prophet Henok Girma that would give him the worst (or best, if you like) “punishment.”

While it is good that he apologized for his remarks regarding Salaale, apologies alone are not enough. Public harm demands public repentance, and repentance must produce fruit. That is why I, on behalf of the Salaale people (nope, no one gave me the mandate, if you are wondering), am proposing the following for him and his ministry to genuinely reconcile with the people of Salaale.

1. Salaale needs a good secondary school. A nice one. A proper one. A well-built one. Yes, Henok and his church can build a good secondary school in Salaale, under close monitoring by the zonal administration. That would be a repentance that educates, empowers, and actually lasts.

2. This is Henok’s moment to become a Zacchaeus of our time. If Henok’s ministry truly reflects the gospel, then this is the time for radical transparency and restitution. Let whatever wealth has been accumulated be openly accounted for, as required by law, and let generous giving be directed to the poor, the homeless, and the vulnerable, starting in Salaale and extending beyond it. Repentance in Scripture was never just words.

3. Last but not least, let’s kill the giant in the house. Henok fouled with his mouth because of ignorance. Ignorance doubled and emboldened by the arrogance of being called a “prophet.” That is why I propose that Henok enroll in a good, credible theological institution to study Christian ministry properly, so that he may understand what true ministry looks like in Scripture, not just what sounds powerful on a pulpit.

I am convinced this would be a very good “punishment.”

The people of Salaale are not interested in revenge, noise, or online drama. They are interested in justice, justice that serves them, lifts their community, and, if possible, redeems Henok himself.

If only he understands it.

@Born_Crucified

If you’ve been missing my public theology reflections on culture and Christianity, stay tuned.

Something is dropping this week 😅

Trust me you’ll love this one.

@Born_Crucified

Ten years ago.

I was 20.
Full-time ministry.
A small Baptist church.
A plastic chair.
An open Bible.
And my life had just taken a sharp, unexpected turn.

This photo was taken during the years I stepped away from medical school—two long, confusing, formative years (2015–2017). At the time, it didn’t feel heroic or spiritual. It felt like interruption. Like delay. Like standing still while everyone else moved on.

But looking back now, I see something else.

I see a young man learning how to sit with Scripture without rushing it. I was trying to learn how to listen before speaking, how to serve without applause, and above all that calling doesn’t always follow a straight line.

I was poor in many ways, but also strangely rich. Had less clarity, more conviction; less certainty but more prayer.

Many things have passed since then. Dreams expanded. Some died. Others matured. Life got heavier, faster, more complex.

I am deeply grateful for where God has brought me.

But I won’t pretend I don’t miss these moments, the simplicity, the quiet fire, the unpolished faith.

Not everything old was better.
But some things were purer.

And I carry them with me still.

@Born_Crucified

[On the Days He has It Together]


He thinks some days are the ideal days to die
to pass away,
to leave it all behind.

Those days he has called his parents
and shared a few laughs with his siblings and friends.

Those days he has showered with his cedarwood body wash,
worn his favourite sandalwood cologne,
put on his dark blue collared shirt and black pants.

Those days his apartment is clean and tidy, laundry done,
clothes ironed and folded.

Those days his shelf is organised,
the dishwasher is empty,
the trash taken out.

Those days he has read his Bible
and prayed in the morning.

Those days he has it all together.
To him, those days feel like the ideal days to die,
or maybe the ideal nights
to leave all this behind.

He watches the doorstep all day
as if waiting for a visit
from a loved one,
for death to come by.

But when death does not arrive,
after all that waiting,
and night finally falls,
he puts on fresh pyjamas,
slips into clean bedsheets,
and whispers,
“O death, where is your sting?
O death, where is your victory?”

“I will instruct you and show you the way to go;  with my eye on you, I will give counsel. ”

Psalms 32:8 CSB

“አስተምርሃለሁ፤ በምትሄድበትም መንገድ እመራሃለሁ፤ እመክርሃለሁ፤ በዐይኔም እከታተልሃለሁ።”

መዝሙር 32:8 NASV

@Born_Crucified