THE LAST CHAPTER (Tribute to Klas '14 Champions)

The force physicists call friction couldn’t stop us; the force physicists call gravitation couldn’t pull us down. In our thoughts, we were like poles, but never repelled one another.

I hate reading exciting books-only to find out that the last chapter has been torn out. This is the last chapter and I'm glad it's intact!

A writer of modern times once observed that “the greatest part of mankind employ their first years to make their last miserable.” But no, we employed our last year - our fifth year in the University to make it remarkable.

September 14, 2014 remains a day that won’t be forgotten in a hurry. It was the day we were crowned champions of the prestigious Klas ’14 Tournament.

That lone goal in the final was just enough to make the supposedly impossible possible.

I still remember vividly how the late Abidemi Adeagbo - an injured substitute and a striker I could comfortably rate above Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud - cut in from the left flank, drove into the 18-yard box and unleashed the strike that won us the tournament.

The atmosphere was electrifying!

At the blast of the final whistle, it became even more electrifying. Sky-blue jerseys and tops filled the arena. We screamed, jumped, hugged one another and celebrated as though we had just won the World Cup.

What a day!

What a moment!

To tell the truth, I had been afraid we would disappoint everyone. To think that the jackometers had left their books to come and support us! It would have been unfair to them if we had lost.

More importantly, it would have been unfair to the entire team - the players, coaches, physiotherapist, media officer, team pastor, manager and those faithful supporters who followed us throughout the competition.

But how did we get that far?

Well, at this point, let me give credit where credit is due and give props to you-know-who.

THE TEAM

1. Babatunde Adegoke (GK)

Great goalkeeper, although very playful, or should I just say unserious?

He was between the sticks for our first game and, if I remember correctly, one other match. He missed a couple of training sessions, but whenever he was available, he contributed his part to our success.

2. Jamiu Ajao (GK)

Our first-choice goalkeeper.

Jamiu made so many important saves throughout the tournament, particularly in the matches against PMT and MEE. He kept clean sheets in every game he played and, by merit, I would have named him goalkeeper of the tournament.

3. Abiodun Obanla (LB/RB)

Obanla started at left-back in the first game and made several vital interceptions. He left many of us wondering how a politician could play football so well.

His political assignments meant that he missed several training sessions and could only feature in about two games, but whenever he played, his contribution was obvious.

4. James Azibolanari Ben (RB)

Solid in defence.

James did very well whenever he was called upon, particularly at right-back. Reliable, strong and difficult to get past.

He is a rock!

5. Opeoluwa Dada (RB/CB)

Tall and very good in the air.

He started the tournament in central defence, but the coach later deployed him at right-back. Unfortunately, injury prevented him from featuring in several matches.

His overall performance was good, except perhaps against MEE, when he kept slipping and nearly cost us a few times. He was eventually substituted and did not feature in the final.

6. Victor Akinsumade (RB)

He featured in only three matches - the final three games of the tournament, but his arrival strengthened the team considerably.

He showed us that he was truly a professional.

I particularly remember the match against MEE, when the head coach moved him into central midfield specifically to disrupt their attacking flow. He did an excellent job of limiting one of MEE’s key players.

He was very important to our success.

7. Festus Dare (LB)

Festus joined training late.

A natural midfielder, he sacrificed his preferred position and operated on the left side of defence throughout the tournament. He became a perfect replacement for Obanla.

His forward runs to support Abbey Lincoln were massive for the team. He was strong, quick and confident on the ball.

At the time, I thought Manchester United might finally have found the long-awaited replacement for Patrice Evra.

8. David Onwe (CB)

I hope I have the right words to describe him.

He was simply fantastic!

David was always early to training. He was there for us throughout the tournament and played every minute of every game.

Forgive me if I say this, but I genuinely believe we could not have won the tournament without him.

9. Damola Fafure (CB)

Nickname: Shizzule.

Before the tournament, most people knew him mainly as the fine boy if you know what I mean - and the graphics designer behind Shizzule Graphics House (SGH), one of the most popular graphics brands in the University.

I remember our opponents laughing when they saw him lining up in defence:

“He think sey na handbill we dey design for here?”

Well, he proved them wrong.

Shizzule was solid.

I still remember one particular moment against PMT: the ball had already gone behind him, a striker was charging forward, and somehow he produced a back-flip clearance.

World class!

Everyone was disappointed when the team physiotherapist declared him unfit for the final because of an ankle injury.

In the end, we won it for him too.

10. Femi Adeloye (DMF)

He wasn’t just about that infectious laughter.

Femi was our strength in the middle of the pitch. He even had a goal to his credit - a beautifully taken strike from outside the 18-yard box.

Except for the match against Computer Science, when he was rested, he played virtually every other minute of the tournament.

Salsa, as he is fondly called because of his amazing drumming talent, was simply too hot for opponents to handle.

His midfield partnership with our captain, Olutoba Jetawo, was made in heaven.

11. Tolulope Richard

Tolulope attended a couple of training sessions but did not feature in any competitive match.

A good defender, certainly, but unfortunately he was not in the coach’s plans for the tournament.

That is football.

12. Olutoba Jetawo (CMF/DMF)

Captain Fantastic!

Team captain, leader, project mate and good friend.

I had known Toba since our first year in the University. He was an accurate passer of the ball and his overall performance in the tournament was fantastic.

He also had a couple of goals to his credit, including the winner against CSP in the quarter-final.

Later in the tournament, fatigue appeared to catch up with him, and for perhaps the first time the coach had to pull him out of a game. He never quite returned to his earlier peak afterwards.

Still, his leadership and contribution to the team cannot be overstated.

13. Stephen Oladipo (LWF/RWF)

Sobriquet: Yungstar.

Love this guy. #no_homo

His commitment was top-notch.

I kept saying to myself, “Yungstar mustn’t be let down.”

He was almost always the first person to report for training. Even when his project supervisor was giving him problems, somehow he still made it.

A talented and well-known singer on campus, he proved that he wasn’t all about the music after all.

He operated on both flanks and, although he rarely played entire matches, he often made an impact whenever he was introduced.

His commitment eventually earned him a place in the starting team.

14. Michael Balogun (RWF)

Not tall, but dangerous with the ball.

Michael started the tournament strongly and showed a lot of commitment, but injuries kept him out of several matches.

Then, just before the final, he regained full fitness.

He performed so well in our final training session that he earned a starting shirt in the final. Unfortunately, he struggled to connect with the aerial balls and became isolated from the frontline, so he was eventually replaced by Gbenga Ogunwo (PAGO).

15. Gbenga Ogunwo (RWF/CF)

To many of the supporters, PAGO was the man of the match in the final.

He replaced Michael late in the game and immediately ran the Architecture defence ragged. His pace was simply too much for them.

Afterwards, many people questioned why we had not started him.

Great player, I must say.

But I had already seen it during training.

He could play either as a striker or as a right-wing forward and was always capable of causing problems.

16. Abbey Lincoln (LWF)

Lanky forward.

Abbey played virtually every game, although not always for the full 90 minutes.

Coach Ebuka particularly saw something in him that many people probably did not notice initially. Abbey followed instructions extremely well, was quick on the ball and was an excellent marker of opponents.

Every team needs players who are willing to do exactly what the system requires.

Abbey was one of ours.

17. Adeolu Batisan (SS)

Perhaps I should spell his name as BATISAN.

Wow!

What - a - guy!

Good with both feet. Humble. Disciplined. Committed.

And honestly, I still struggle to find the right words.

I interrupted his reading session of Atomic Spectroscopy (PHY 518) to invite him to join the team.

That decision turned out rather well.

He was simply too good.

How could we have won the tournament without him?

His partnership with Wilson and Bidemi was out of this world.

18. Wilson Arege (AMF/CF)

Tall, strong and very good on the ball.

Nobody does it better.

Wilson was excellent in the air. He was not necessarily our most prolific goalscorer, but he was always a threat to opposing defenders.

That probably explains the kick he received on his chest during our second-round match against PMT. He eventually had to be substituted. It seemed the opponents had decided that the easiest way to stop him was simply to get him off the pitch.

Credit must go to the coach for playing him upfront. Wilson was naturally a midfielder, so the decision to use him as a striker was questioned initially.

By the end of the tournament, everyone understood why.

19. Abidemi Usman Adeagbo (CF)

“Bidex, I’m watching you!”

Those were my frequent words to him.

Off the pitch, his attitude towards training could drive you crazy. I warned him several times that there was no automatic shirt for anybody.

On the pitch, however, Bidemi was different.

Brilliant.

I think he played only one full match throughout the tournament, yet he was unquestionably our best striker.

Injuries troubled him repeatedly, but even that could not stop him from becoming the tournament’s highest goalscorer with six goals. He scored in every group game.

Then came the final.

He entered the match carrying an injury. Under normal circumstances, perhaps we should not have risked him. But we trusted his ability, and we knew what he could do in front of goal.

So we took the chance.

And he did it!

That goal.

Yes, that goal.

The goal that crowned us champions came from his boot!

THE COACH

When the tournament was announced, only a few people showed genuine interest.

Understandably so.

Playing football or, more accurately, winning football matches had never really been our thing.

Right from first year, things had rarely gone well. Crashing out in the opening round had practically become our modus operandi.

Then came Ebuka Gerard Paschal Nwadike.

He made the difference.

Ebuka started the campaign by gingering the guys and constantly assuring everyone that we could actually win if we approached the tournament with focus, unity and determination.

Need I tell you that Ebuka is someone who detests failure in whatever quarter?

A first-class by all standards; failure has never really been his thing.

I knew that already, so I did not hesitate to become his assistant and be part of what he was trying to build.

One moment particularly stands out.

After our victory against PMT in the round of 16, complacency began creeping into the team. People were becoming too relaxed.

Ebuka called everyone together and gave a speech that brought us back to our senses.

I cannot reproduce it word for word now, but the message was something like this:

“There are certain things that can stop a man from achieving his dreams. Everyone needs to know his weakness. If yours is women, check it. If it is alcohol, reduce it. And if someone is advising you and you refuse to listen, you are only harming yourself. The problem with most of us is that we are proud.”

Then he warned us:

“If we are not careful, we will lose against CSP. We have to change our mentality and stop underrating anybody.”

He reminded us how terrible we had felt after losing our first game of the tournament against AEE.

As things turned out, the match against CSP was extremely difficult. Had we gone into it with the arrogance we had begun to develop, we might easily have lost.

I cannot reproduce everything he said that day, but there was enough eloquence and seriousness in his voice for even a moron to get the hint.

THE MANAGER

Paul Anibaba

Paul started the whole thing.

He bought the form, followed up on the schedules and remained involved throughout the competition. He attended some of our training sessions and had, in many ways, been part of building the team since our first year.

Up Pepsi!

THE TEAM MEDIA OFFICER

Godwin Otah

Godwin did an excellent job of ensuring that nobody was left in oblivion about what was happening with the team.

His social-media posts kept everyone informed and made even those who could not attend the games feel connected to the campaign.

THE TEAM PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Edidiong Ekpe

Edidiong did very well for himself and for the team.

He was available throughout the tournament, attending to injuries and helping ensure that the players remained in the best possible condition to compete.

THE TEAM PASTOR

Victor Oviangbede

Victor was there throughout, in body and in Spirit.

You could see the passion on his face during every match.

And, yes:

His prayers did it.

THE FAITHFUL SUPPORTERS

No account of this tournament would be complete without remembering those who stood behind us.

Oyinkansola Onipede

She was always there.

I particularly remember the final, when she turned up in a yellow Arsenal away jersey.

Ranti Bademosi

Like Oyin, she was constantly around the team.

I remember one occasion when she even provided glucose for the players.

Great personality.

Dina

He attended many of our training sessions and matches, always ready to cheer the boys on.

Olusola Ewaregbemi (Painthinkin)

A devoted supporter.

I remember how much shouting he did during matches.

At various moments, he was the coach, the player, the referee...

He was everything.

Johnson Gbenga

He made himself available on many occasions, both during training and at matches.

Omoboyeje Oyesanmi

A great tutor who still found time to support us despite his commitments at RCF.

He even joined one of our training sessions and, to be fair, did quite well.

Kehinde Bankole

What a passionate guy.

A great supporter throughout the tournament.

Samson Ikunika

He believed strongly in the team and fondly referred to Ebuka as Mourinho.

At the time, perhaps the comparison did not seem so far-fetched.

Samuel Obadero

Great class representative.

Samuel covered for us academically and helped ensure that our football adventures did not put us permanently in Dr. E. O. Ogolo’s bad books.

He also attended virtually every game.

And, of course, Dr. Oluyamo is certainly not forgotten. He came out to support us in the final.

WHAT THE TOURNAMENT TAUGHT ME

In the end, the tournament taught me much more than football.

It confirmed something I have continued to believe: people can accomplish things that once appeared impossible when they combine humility, hard work, focus, dedication, determination and unity.

We were not favourites.

Our history gave nobody any reason to make us favourites.

But we trained, probably more than any other team. We listened to one another. People sacrificed preferred positions for the team. Injured players gave what they could. Those who did not play still contributed. Friends left their books to support us. Others prayed, treated injuries, shared information and covered for us academically.

Everybody played a part.

And, of course, by the grace of God, we made it.

Years later, some details may have become hazy, but the feeling remains.

We took what was supposed to be just another tournament in our final year and turned it into one of those memories that refuses to disappear.

I hope wherever everyone is today, we are still carrying some of those qualities with us: humility, hard work, focus, dedication, determination and unity.

And if we have forgotten them somewhere along the way, perhaps this is a good time to remember.

I miss everyone.

See you at the top.

THE OFFICIAL EMOTION

Written by: Jephthah ‘Sola Iyaro and Edidiong Ekpe.

Source: kristyhanly.co.uk

About ten years ago, lightning struck my home. It was no ordinary strike. The damage was so severe that a mango tree through which the lightning passed eventually became barren. Every electrical appliance plugged in at the time was damaged. Electric bulbs flashed and blew almost instantly, while insulated wires carrying electricity into the house, even several feet away, melted.

Ever since that experience, whenever the sky becomes cloudy and rain seems imminent, my first instinct is not to rush outside for clothes on the line. I head straight for the electrical appliances connected to the wall sockets and unplug them. Somehow, every approaching storm carries with it the memory of that day and the possibility that it might happen again.

That feeling is anxiety.

Gary Collins, in Overcoming Anxiety (1973), describes anxiety as one of the most pervasive psychological experiences of modern life. Its causes are numerous. In my case, the anxiety associated with thunderstorms was learned through experience. At other times, anxiety comes simply because we have learned enough to understand what is happening around us.

Source: marciakatz.com

Years ago, for example, I could listen to a newscaster or weather presenter mainly because I admired the way the English words were pronounced. I might even repeat some of them afterwards. Today, those same words carry meanings that I understand much better—and sometimes the news itself gives me something to worry about.

Perhaps that is part of the price of awareness.

We live in a world in which there is almost always something capable of making us anxious. Technology changes rapidly, and sometimes simply trying to keep up can become exhausting. Smartphones and social media now bring events from almost anywhere in the world directly into our hands within seconds. Economic uncertainty, climate change, elections, insecurity, employment, relationships, school results and countless other concerns can occupy the mind.

Source: anxiety-traetments.com

Think, for instance, about the moment you were about to check an important examination result. You probably knew that the result already existed and that worrying would not change it, yet your heart still raced as you prepared to see it.

Sometimes the cause of anxiety is obvious. At other times, it is much harder to identify. A person may simply feel that something is wrong or that something terrible is about to happen without being able to explain exactly what it is. Anxiety can also be accompanied by physical reactions: the familiar “butterflies” in the stomach, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, restlessness or changes in the way the body responds to stress. When anxiety becomes persistent or overwhelming, it can affect both physical and emotional well-being.

The important question, then, is: How do we deal with it?

Source: originalstrength.com

People respond to anxiety in different ways.

Sometimes we joke about the things that frighten us. Humour can reduce tension and make a difficult situation feel a little more manageable. At other times, people cry, sleep, daydream or temporarily distract themselves from whatever is troubling them. Some turn to alcohol or other forms of escape.

These responses may reduce the feeling of anxiety for a while, but they do not necessarily solve the problem that produced it. Escaping from anxiety is not always the same as dealing with it.

Consider someone who becomes extremely nervous whenever he wants to ask a woman on a date. He could eliminate that particular anxiety by simply deciding never to date. The immediate problem would disappear, but his avoidance might eventually produce a different kind of unhappiness or anxiety altogether.

Whenever possible, therefore, it is better to identify what is making us anxious, face it honestly and ask what can reasonably be done about it.

This does not mean that every form of anxiety is useless. Psychology recognizes that some degree of anxiety or concern can be helpful. It can alert us to danger, motivate us to prepare for an examination, encourage us to meet a deadline or remind us to take a situation seriously.

Yet the Bible says:

“Be anxious for nothing...”

— Philippians 4:6

At first, that may appear to contradict the idea that some anxiety can be useful. I do not think it does.

The biblical warning is better understood as a warning against the kind of anxiety that becomes worry, fear and fretfulness—the kind that consumes us and makes us behave as though the entire burden of life rests upon our shoulders.

The apostle Paul himself was not a man without concern. He faced hunger, persecution, danger and uncertainty. He also spoke openly about his concern for the churches and for other believers. So Christianity does not call us to become indifferent people who care about nothing.

There is a difference between being concerned about something and being controlled by worry about it.

Concern can move us to act.
Worry can leave us paralysed.

Concern says, “What can I do about this?”
Worry often keeps asking, “What if everything goes wrong?”

Faith does not mean pretending that our problems do not exist. Neither does it mean refusing to prepare for danger. I still unplug my appliances when a serious storm approaches, and I think that is sensible. Trusting God does not require abandoning wisdom.

What faith changes is the belief that everything ultimately depends on us.

There comes a point after we have prepared, planned, worked, prayed and done what is within our ability when we must acknowledge that many things remain outside our control. Carrying those things endlessly in our minds will not necessarily change them.

For the Christian, that is where trust becomes important.

We face the problem where we can. We seek help where necessary. We act responsibly. But we also learn to place what we cannot control in the hands of God.

And when I think about it, what other lasting alternative do we really have?

______________________________________________________________________________

Note

This reflection was substantially influenced by ideas discussed in:

Collins, Gary R. (1973). Overcoming Anxiety. Santa Ana, California: Vision House Publishers. ISBN 0-87801-017-3.

The personal experiences, examples and Christian reflections expressed here are my own, while several of the general ideas concerning the nature of anxiety and ways people respond to it were developed from my reading of Collins’ work.

THE TRICKY QUESTION: WHAT CHURCH DO YOU ATTEND?

WHAT CHURCH DO YOU ATTEND?

Whenever someone asks me, “What church do you attend?”, I sometimes hear another question behind it:

“What kind of Christian are you?”

It is a simple question, and ordinarily it should require a simple answer. Yet I often hesitate, because experience has taught me that people sometimes attach much more meaning to the answer than the question appears to carry.

Why does the person want to know?

Is it simply curiosity? Is my church affiliation being used to decide how trustworthy I am? Whether I am someone to associate with or avoid? Is the question leading to a discussion about doctrine? Am I about to be told why my church is wrong? Or, in some circumstances, is someone quietly trying to determine whether I would be considered an acceptable person to marry?

Perhaps these questions sound excessive, but denominational identity can carry enormous weight among Christians.

Many of us naturally develop strong attachments to the churches in which we worship. There is nothing necessarily wrong with that. A church should teach sound doctrine, encourage holiness, provide fellowship and help believers grow in their relationship with God.

The problem begins when loyalty to our denomination becomes a measure of another person's Christianity.

Churches often have traditions, practices and standards developed to guide their members. Some of these may be wise and beneficial. But we should distinguish between clear biblical teaching and the particular rules or traditions of a denomination. A Christian who does not observe every practice peculiar to my church is not automatically less faithful to Christ.

This does not mean that every church is equally sound.

False teaching exists. Scripture repeatedly warns Christians about false teachers and distorted doctrine. We therefore have a responsibility to examine carefully what we are taught and where we worship. But that makes Scripture more important—not denominational labels. Ultimately, our standard must be the Word of God rather than the reputation, traditions or authority of any individual church leader.

My concern is therefore not with organisations that clearly abandon the Christian faith. It is with the divisions that sometimes arise among Christians who genuinely confess Christ and seek to follow Scripture, yet treat one another with suspicion because they belong to different denominations.

John Wesley expressed a principle worth remembering when addressing disagreements among Christians. If another believer believes he sees something in Scripture more clearly, Wesley's response was essentially: show me the better way from Scripture. Convince me not merely through tradition or personal preference, but through biblical evidence.

That is a healthier approach to Christian disagreement.

Unfortunately, denominational loyalty sometimes extends far beyond theological discussion. There have been situations in which employers favour members of their own churches. Some lecturers or people in positions of authority may show preference to those with whom they share a religious affiliation. Relationships have ended because one church would not accept marriage to someone from another denomination unless that person first became a member.

At that point, we should ask ourselves an uncomfortable question:

Have we made belonging to our group more important than belonging to Christ?

There will always be doctrinal differences worth discussing. Some differences are minor; others are serious enough that Christians should not ignore them. Unity does not require pretending that theology does not matter.

But neither does faithfulness require treating every disagreement as evidence that the person on the other side is spiritually inferior.

The apostle Paul gives us a different picture. Writing to the Corinthians, he explained how willingly he adapted himself to different people so that unnecessary barriers would not prevent them from hearing the gospel:

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

  - 1 Corinthians 9:22 (KJV)

Paul did not abandon truth in order to accommodate everyone. Rather, he refused to make himself the centre of the message. His concern was the gospel.

Perhaps Christians today need more of that spirit.

So the next time we ask someone, “What church do you attend?”, perhaps we should also examine why the answer matters so much to us.

A person's church can certainly tell us something about what he or she has been taught. But a denominational name cannot, by itself, tell us the depth of that person's faith, the condition of the heart, or the quality of the life being lived.

There is value in knowing where someone worships.

There is greater value in knowing whom they follow.

THE BEST OF NAMES

THE BEST OF ALL NAMES

Names are curious things.

A girl called Joy may grow up solemn. A man called Lucky may seem remarkably unfortunate. Someone named Hope may go through seasons of despair. Clearly, a beautiful name is no guarantee of a beautiful life.

Perhaps we sometimes ask too much of names.

A name may express an aspiration, but it cannot manufacture character. It may tell us something about the hopes of those who gave it, but the bearer must eventually decide what that name will come to represent.

The Bible itself shows how seriously names could be taken. When Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were taken into Babylon, they were given new names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. The change was part of a much larger attempt to absorb them into Babylonian culture. Yet something remarkable happened: their names changed, but their convictions did not. They continued to worship the God of Israel.

That suggests something important. A name can be given to you, changed for you or even imposed upon you, but ultimately the life you live determines what people come to associate with it.

History is full of names whose significance now comes largely from the people who carried them. Some names inspire admiration because of the lives attached to them; others have become so associated with evil that very few parents would willingly give them to a child. The dictionary meaning of a name is therefore only part of its story. Human beings give names reputations.

This brings me to one name that Christians regard differently.

Jesus.

Before His birth, Joseph was instructed to give Mary’s son that name because He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). In other words, His name was connected from the beginning with His mission.

And this is what makes the name extraordinary to me: Jesus did not merely receive a meaningful name. His life fulfilled its meaning.

He taught the forgotten, touched the rejected, confronted hypocrisy, forgave sinners and gave His life for others. Christians do not treasure the name merely because the word itself sounds beautiful. They treasure it because of the Person to whom it belongs.

That distinction matters.

The name of Jesus is not a magical formula. The book of Acts tells of men who attempted to invoke Jesus’ name as though simply pronouncing it guaranteed spiritual authority. Their experience ended disastrously (Acts 19:13–16). The power was never in arranging five letters in the correct order. The power belongs to Christ Himself.

That is why, when Christians pray “in Jesus’ name,” it should mean much more than attaching a familiar phrase to the end of a prayer. It is an appeal to His person, His authority and our relationship with Him.

Charles Spurgeon once reflected beautifully on how much meaning Christians find compressed into this remarkably short name. His language is poetic, but the underlying thought is profound: a name can be small enough to whisper and yet point to something immeasurably greater than itself.¹

The New Testament goes even further. Paul writes that God exalted Christ and bestowed upon Him “the name which is above every name,” so that every knee should bow and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).

So why call Jesus the best of all names?

Not simply because the name is short.
Not because it sounds beautiful.
Not because pronouncing it functions like an incantation.

It is the best of names because of who bears it.

Its meaning and its Bearer agree. His words did not contradict His life. His identity was not separated from His mission. And while human reputations rise, fall and are sometimes rewritten by history, Christians confess a Christ who “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Perhaps that gives us something to think about regarding our own names.

You may have been given a name with a wonderful meaning. You may even have been named after someone your parents admired. But a good name is more than something written on a birth certificate. Over time, your life gives your name its reputation.

So, do you know what your name means?

More importantly, when people hear it, what has your life taught them that it means?

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Note: This reflection revisits and substantially rewrites an article by Charles H. Spurgeon’s meditation on the name of Jesus.