smaj publishing house

. . Growing deep in your relationship with God is like two love birds just starting out. You know how it is . . . (smiles). They always want to be together. It is called communion. I recall visiting ‘him’ some months before our marriage. We decided to dedicate the day for a real time out together. The whole day was filled with laughter and happy moments.... It was as though the day would never end but it sure did. I had to travel back home but the conversation continued deeper and deeper. Such communion is still enjoyed till tomorrow. We aren’t just lovers, but friends too. You need to build a relationship with God and yourself before someone else. People’s compliments should not dictate how you feel about yourself. As a matter of fact, feelings fluctuate. It is love you need to have for ‘you’. If your relationship with God is based on feelings, I’m sad to announce to you that it would never stand the test of time. There are many times I do...

The Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos was parked and full as teenagers and young adults as well as parents who cared much about them converged for a worship/word fiesta – with loads of side attractions. It was the first of its kind. OmidanWura and her loving husband had drove in some minutes before kickoff time. She was scheduled to speak to the participants. An ecstatic atmosphere emerged as she stepped out of her branded car – few people not really knowing who she was but joined in the applause. They simply flowed with the atmosphere. Protocol officers were on standby to usher the duo to their seats in a dignified manner. As her culture is, all she was heard saying was, ‘thank you’, ‘God bless you’, ‘a great privilege to be here’. The voice of a teenager was picked from the rear as she screamed, ‘I want to be like you when I grow up, MA!’ The worship fiesta got real well on course as the platform was graced with worship leade...

The long awaited call came in. It was Obajimi. ‘How did it go?’ I asked hastily. ‘You won’t believe it. Kabiyesi cunningly sided Juwon. It was a heart rendering experience.' ‘I was not expecting less from him!’. The dog is his first heir to the throne. I know he would do anything to protect him and his own personality. ‘So, what was the resolution?’ ‘He said we should bury it... like make it ‘ oku oru ’ . He claimed it’s a family affair and we ought not to spread our dirty underwear for public sight. I was infuriated, at the expense of whom? Omosalewa! ‘Does he have an idea what that poor girl is going through? The aftermath of being defiled by your own brother! How would she live freely in the palace without an obvious reprimanding measure melted out to Juwon? This is practical male chauvinism. ‘No better word, my dear’. I can now say emphatically that the princesses have little value befo...

The next movie was scheduled for 2:30pm. We stopped at the ticket stand to book two seats. Luckily, one of the movies cued for the time was Sci-Fi. We both are passionate lovers of science fictions. I could feel a radiant smile springing naturally from within her – maybe it’s how I wanted to feel anyways – but a feeling of fulfillment ran through me all the same. We sat at the table for a quiet meal. I ordered two bottles of malt drink, followed by a plate of fried rice, salad and chicken breast. ‘What would you like to have, dear?’ ‘I am not hungry,’ she replied without much thought. I pressed in more but she insisted - until she finally gave in to having a cup of ice-cream. I topped that up with a request for a freshly made Sharwama . I tried out my usual deals. ‘Can we eat your servings together, followed by mine?’ ‘Huh! Huh! No way! Not at this time’ ‘Alright, fine by me,’ I responded mildly. ...

There she was, her face buried in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. I could not think of the right words to use at this time. I drew close, pulled her off the floor and sat close to her as she rested on my shoulder, weeping. She began to download the details firsthand. 'I sat quietly in my room this morning - engrossed in the book you mailed to me last month on purpose discovery. I opted for a reclusive 40 days break to really focus on the nuggets in the book. Shortly afterwards, I got Juwon’s message, requesting I come over to help out with his breakfast. I wished I foresaw his gimmicks – he had often been making jovial advances to me before now but I never took it seriously. This time, he claimed to be sick. I obliged immediately and went over to make his breakfast. Since I was full, I declined sharing the meal with him but he insisted I take a glass of juice – pointing to the direction of the pineapple juice sitting on the tray close to his bed. I took a glass a...

I drove into Royale Avenue in about thirty minutes. The traffic was a bit heavy due to so many events fixed for the weekend. Pulled up at the estate gate, honed wildly and was greeted by the guard. He is skilled at deciphering sounds especially when it’s coming from a familiar car like mums’. He swung open the gate and I drove in. Pausing for a while to ask about his welfare, he began his usual eulogy again. ‘Here comes Her Excellency,’ he said. I replied with a rather fake smile. ‘I wish this man knows what is going on in my mind,’ I thought. He would have picked that it is not the right time for jokes. ‘It’s been a while’. I thought you took the soil of this estate with you already. You didn’t even bother checking on us. ‘Um… No thanks to my job’. I reached out for my purse, picked a reasonable note and slipped it into his hands to end his rhetoric. Ah! Your Excellency, this is much! (As if he would d...

It was early on a Saturday morning. I had made up my mind before retiring to bed to sleep until around 10am. The previous night was spent at a vigil I could not but attend. Though stressful due to my busy week schedule, it was well enjoyed. The pastor of my local church had invited me to speak to the teenagers of my church. I find so much joy in reaching out to teenagers and young adults; that if I had one more day to live and was asked to make a dying wish, it would be to speak to a large congregation of young adults and afterwards retire home to be with my family and enjoy a lavishly prepared dinner – then retire to bed as I bid them goodnight. I found my way back home around half past five in the morning, fell flat on my bed. Clothes still on, exactly the way I came in. I struggled to remove my shoes. While nursing the thought to change into something lighter so I can sleep soundly – I slept off. I was still lost in the dreamland when I was disturbed by a continuous ...

Elder Adeyinka Rogers is the renowned marriage/family counselor. He has won for himself several honorary titles in his local church as well as at his place of work and the vicinity he lives in. While some refer to him as the Elder ‘marriage man’ (relative to Elder statesman), some call him the ideal family man, others simply address him as ‘Baba’, amongst several other titles. One would wonder at times if he attended a conventional school or took up courses on family life and relationships. When posed with a direct question of how he knew so much about relationships, he would often lean back on his chair as though the backrest and arm support would provide the answer he wants to deliver. He would then say, ‘Experience they say is the best teacher’, although if I could have my way, I would delete the word ’best’. You see my daughter, ‘ oju ti ri ’. Whenever he makes such statements, everyone present at the time should be ...

Love Affairs is a story of faith, family, trust and love. It consists several plot lines that coalesced into a whole. It featured Elder Adeyinka Rogers, a renowned family/marriage counsellor, whose influence robbed off on the purpose oriented Omidan Wuraola as well as his son, Prince Aderopo Rogers. Omidan Wuraola rode on the pedestal to impact her world with special focus on teenagers and young adults. For Prince Aderopo, it was not a bed of roses from the initial standpoint - as he had to endure betrayal from the one he was to spend the rest of his life with. He had choices....he had tastes....and he has a life to live. Would he be limited? Would he be haunted? What about the aftermath? The story continues.....