PEELING BACK THE LAYERS

 

In this year of 54, I'm not limiting myself to what I have known and I'm getting to know as the operational guidance system in living. The more foundational system I am more than confident to rely on is my covenant relationship with God. My younger self would have agreed, yet argued on how my conscious actions, my intent and my willpower are directly involved in the progressive trajectory of my life. My older self will simply smile, because I have seen God show up where  everything spelled doom and failure and demise, and He showed up to defy the operation of things. And I have also seen where everything was perfectly in line with Gods word, standards and statutes, and nothing but failure, poverty and hardships prevailed. So yes, the God Factor is the determinant that I choose to rely on. Personally, I have come to know and experience this aspect of Him as Jehovah El-Shakara, the God that does shakara with me; the God that announces me and sets a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

The concept I am addressing in this blog is peeling back the layers and discovering an awareness, a strength, a reality or even a relevance to living that may have remained dormant if that layer had not been peeled. Simple as this concept is, the mystery is the peeling back process. We would like to assume that if you followed the unwritten protocol of living, and ascribe to the membership of the Status Quo club of life, this unpeeling of layers in your life to discover a more knowledgeable and wiser you would systematically happen. Unfortunately not so. The discovery of a more progressive you after a confining and limiting thought process and concept of self is shed happens akin to a growth process of a seed. The shell can simply peel of, or imply trauma and break off. Without attempting to suggest that one must experience trauma to attain some experiential knowledge that acts as a catalyst to unveil a progressive self, there is an understanding that is attained from analyzing and evaluating the trauma. The effective application or utilization of this understanding is what makes one an expert in such fields.

I can take this a step further. As a Christian, my theology teaches me "everything works together for good', suggesting that everything that happens in our lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly - are all resources that God uses to work out his purpose. The bad and even the ugly are relevant. These are ingredients in the kaleidoscope of our lives. There is a relevance, a knowing, an awareness, a confident settlement in ones agency and autonomy that is attained at the peeling back of a layer that could be termed traumatic, bad or ugly.

The bible is rife with examples that not only reveal a higher awareness of God (which is a progressive development), but these examples become opportunities for the Spirit of God to use to minister truth. Rahab the prostitute actively on the clock in her vocation, and Israelite spies show up. She risks it all to help them, and negotiates her well-being at the impending moment of reckoning. Not only did she get her expectation, God swoops in and makes her part of the lineage of the Christ, and has it stated in the genealogy of the Christ to be remembered. Rahab could have been of the mindset that her life as a prostitute was so derogatory and immoral that she would not only keep it a secret, she would use semantics to relabel her career. But it was that exact career that was relevant in the moment of opportunity in the divine operation of God. And God takes further by adding validity and relevance to her by calling her, Rahab the prostitute in the genealogy of Christ.

The key takeaway is this - no matter the experience, identity, indulgence, memory, etc - these are all layers incubating a progressive you. Do the educating, the therapy, the rehabilitation, the discipleship, etc, but be aware that the performance of these are not the foundation of ones confidence, but rather the God factor showing up regardless. And underneath the layers is a reveal waiting to happen. The failure, shame and disgrace has a lesson to teach and a version of you to reveal. I remember when I was blackmailed in my youth, and thought my world had come to an end. I walked on the street thinking I was unworthy of life. Today, I am so appreciative of that experience, I can almost look for the perpetuators to thank them! Who knows what I would be like if that hadnt happened? 

"Everything works together for good to them that love God; even to them who are called according to His purpose" - Roman 8:28

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR & SOCIAL IMPACT CREATOR

Social Entrepreneur – Mission driven, innovative problem solver, resourceful and resilient. Creating organizations to address social issues. Community engagement,

Social Impact Creator – Digital platform to transmit awareness and positive change, often times drawing from personal anecdote

Anyone who knows me would readily affirm that these two concepts describe who I am. However, I never even knew this was what I was crafting my way towards.

Embarking on my PhD in Psychology helped me discover my Voice and owning my agency. I discovered myself as a Scholar-Practitioner - one who was able to incorporate the acquired academic knowledge, and be a practitioner of it to make relevant social change and impact. I discovered I could motivate others to band with me and we could propagate positive change, and to be effective and legally compliant, it would be more expedient to create a nonprofit organization (or a non-governmental organization, also known as an NGO).

I was an avid Social Media user, but not really interested in the celebrity and fame part of it. I was more interested in using it to disseminate information. I was a graduate of Bible School, and had been anointed into ministry by the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, so I started an online ministry where I daily shared nuggets of truths from scriptures I read. I was also a writer and singer, recording music and publishing books.

Somewhere along the line, I knew all these multiple ventures and aspects of me couldnt possibly sporadic and random. I could perceive a purpose and destiny path that I couldnt quite define. So I decided to use AI to help me define what I was feeling in discovering and using my voice. Below are the results AI gave me:

1. Public speaking

2. Writing (articles, blogs, books)

3. Social media

4. Advocacy

5. Artistic expression (music, poetry, etc.)

By using your voice, you can:

1. Raise awareness about important issues

2. Inspire and motivate others

3. Challenge injustices or stereotypes

4. Share personal experiences and perspectives

5. Influence others and drive change 

These were things I was already doing, so I asked AI what was someone who did these. Among the various titles and explanations given, being a Social Entrepreneur and a Social Impact Creator  were the 2 titles that resonated with me.

Celebrating Supervisors!

Saybah was one of my supervisors I have enjoyed working with. A great person, and strict boss! Hahaha.

Jamie hired me years ago, and even though we both transitioned from that company, we have stayed in touch. Definitely enjoyed working with her.

I call Natalie, "Best Boss Ever". She was a great Boss to work with, and of course I am still in touch with her. She threw a celebration for me at transition onward.

Stefanie was an incredible boss. First Boss I had to really push me to explore my potentials and test my boundaries. And she fired me when I got too extra 🤣🤣🤣. It was business, it wasnt personal. And i stay in touch.

Latoya, my current supervisor. And we get the job done! If you cant tell, shes fly and dope!

I noticed that I have had more female supervisors than males. And I never really have a great relationship with my male supervisors. Ive heard that I come across like Im trying to "alpha male test them". I dont necessarily agree with that analysis, but who knows.

This is who I AM

A friend of mine suggested this challenge to me. I did it, and the above picture was my result. Yes, I am an Assistant General Manager at my job. But then I thought about it. I am more than my 9 - 5 job. I have a full, rich and active reality beyond my worklife; ventures I am passionately involved in, and indulge in. So I did the challenge again, and the below pic is the generated result. Im an Artist, a Pastor, an avid Traveler, a Professor of Psychology, a Podcaster, and a Mentor.

FASTING!

Usually the beginning of the year is when a majority of churches, if not all, indulge in some form of a fast. Why?

According to Galatians 5, there are 2 influences at work in us: the Spirit who is leading us and working in us to be in conformity to the purpose and destiny of God for us; and our carnal nature (flesh), which is our inherent fallen human nature. This nature always wants what is contrary to the heart of the Spirit of God for us. Two influences warring to influence us. The one we submit to and give attention to ends up being the one that influences us more. However, the Spirit of God sometimes pulls executive precedence, and has his way regardless of proceedings. This isnt always the case, so we do better by walking with the Spirit with our daily choices.

Fasting is a spiritual exercise we indulge in by abstaining from a regular indulgence as a sacrifice to invite the influence of the Spirit in our lives. It is an act of faith - it isnt simply abstaining from food, or social media, or whatever we choose to fast from; it is abstainance plus spiritual investment which includes reading the word, prayer, a prioritizing of our covenant relationship with God, etc. This act of fasting is one spiritual investment that can help reset us back into submission and alignment with the plan of God at work in us, consciously, unconsciously and subconsciously. 

Fasting at the beginning of the year is something we should automatically commit to. As people who are being rehabilitated by the Spirit of God at work in us, we have so many areas of issues and flaws in our lives in dire need of divine intervention and salvaging. We are constantly being distracted, lured and seduced away. We have areas in our lives in need of transformation, and our minds in need of a renewing. Doubt and unbelief festering in us regarding the promises of God to us. Fasting is our proactive spiritual exercise of aligning with the Spirit, and making a commitment to mortifying the influences of our carnal nature.

The one error some of us run into is thinking Fasting is assisting God. So somehow our faith becomes hinged on the excellency of our Fasting. If you did a "good fast", you have helped God; and if your fast wasnt that good, then you didnt help God and his plan for you may not come to pass. Complete foolishness! Fasting doesnt help God in any way; Fasting is for you to get yourself in submission and alignment. It is for you! Fasting helps you, not God. Fasting doesnt force the hand of God to us. In the Old Testament, maybe, but in the new covenant relationship by the blood of Jesus, there is no new act or performance that can be done to add unto what Jesus has done. He paid the price and completed what needed to be done. Our fasting experience is for us.

My encouragement therefore is for YOU to take time to fast this January. Dont do it because your church is doing it, and you have no other choice. Do it because you know you have flaws and issues, and this is a spiritual resource to align yourself into the heavenly plan of God for you - especially in those areas of your life where it seems you have no control, or ability to manage things to a specific outcome or expectation. What do you have to lose? Nothing! But the gain can be the attainment of your vision, goals, dreams, purpose and destiny!

Let's fast!

2026 - Living in the Moment!

 

It is often traditional and cultural to coin up a theme every year to aspire towards. As 2025 was rounding up, I found myself living in the moment. December 2025 I was in Nigeria for vacation, and I did something I have never done before. I was completely absent from social media. No updates, no posts, no inspirations, no sharing of scriptures. I removed myself from social media completely and lived in the moment. It turned out to be very exhilarating and fulfilling, and unconsciously my trajectory for 2026.

As much as it is a necessity t plan for the future and save for the rainy day, it is also priority to live in the moment. Experience life, enjoy the fruits of your labor (or someone else will), take in the moment and savor the presence of God and the blessings given. Too many times we are living in the future - a future hope, a future moment of glory, a future expectation. And what happens when the mortality of life cuts off that future expectation?

Live in the moment! Appreciate what God has given you now. Appreciate and celebrate your loved ones now. Show your aging parent the love they need now, because tomorrow may be too late. And that is exactly what I am doing this 2026. Living my life with no regrets, living to experience the life God has blessed me with.

ps, I am also transitioning from Kenneth Tamara the social media content curator, to Prof Akponwei Jr, a Social Entrepreneur and Social Impact Creator. At 54, it can be daunting to attempt to craft out a new creative path, but like Abraham uprooted his entire family and followed the leading of a Voice, so I must navigate this path. I own my Voice, and I follow where He leads me.

Enough talk

 Its been over a year of intending to do this. So Sunday July 27th I dived headlong to do it!