Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Foolishness of Pride!

I constantly pray to guard my tongue, heart, thoughts and soul to be careful of what I say not to offend others. I want to be treated the way I treat others. I do not always get the same treatment but I still try. I think I am in some control of my emotions but that is foolishness on my part. I am not always in control and my pride still gets the better of me. Pride lets you be stupid at the moment and then humiliates you later. Quoting Forrest Gump’s mother, “Stupid is as stupid does.” I have to pray unceasingly not to let the foolishness of pride take control. The sad part of pride allows others to take control of you. Be wary, my friend, stay alert at all times.

Obama Africanus the First - by Geoffrey R. Stone

Things to question

Obama Africanus the First

Geoffrey R. Stone 

Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law, University of Chicago

I've been thinking lately about the persistently vituperative and insulting attacks on President Obama since 2008. It is, of course, commonplace in American politics for presidents to be lambasted for their policies, their programs, their values, and even their personal quirks. Sometimes the tone crosses the line. John Adams was accused by a political opponent of "swallowing up" every "consideration of the public welfare ... in a continual grasp for power." James Madison was demeaned as "Little Jemmy," because he was short. James Buchanan, who once declared that workers should get by on a dime a day, came to be mocked as "Ten Cents Jimmy."

John Tyler, who assumed the presidency after the death of William Henry Harrison, was ridiculed as "His Accidency." Congressman Abraham Lincoln castigated President James K. Polk as a "completely bewildered man." Opponents of Woodrow Wilson's reinstitution of the draft in World War I accused him of "committing a sin against humanity." Critics of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal attacked him as an "un-American radical." Richard Nixon was famously known as "Tricky Dick," and of course he was not "A Crook." At the height of the Vietnam War, Lyndon Johnson was excoriated by his opponents as a "Murderer" and a "War Criminal."

But no president in our nation's history has ever been castigated, condemned, mocked, insulted, derided, and degraded on a scale even close to the constantly ugly attacks on President Obama. From the day he assumed office -- indeed, even before he assumed office -- he was subjected to unprecedented insults in often the most hateful terms.

He has been accused of being born in Kenya, of being a "secret Muslim," of being complicit with the Muslim Brotherhood, of wearing a ring bearing a secret verse from the Koran, of having once been a Black Panther, of refusing to recite the pledge of allegiance, of seeking to confiscate all guns, of lying about just about everything he has ever said, ranging from Benghazi to the Affordable Care Act to immigration, of faking bin Laden's death, and of funding his campaigns with drug money. It goes on and on and on. Even the President's family is treated by his political enemies with disrespect and disdain.

If one browses even respectable websites, one can readily find bumper stickers, coffee cups, and tee-shirts for sale with such messages as: "Dump This Turd" (with an image of President Obama); "Coward! You Left Them To Die in Benghazi" (with an image of President Obama); "Somewhere in Kenya A Village Is Missing Its Idiot" (with an image of President Obama); "Islam's Trojan Horse" (with an image of President Obama); "Pure Evil" (with an image of President Obama); "I'm Not A Racist: I Hate His White Half Too" (with an image of President Obama); "He Lies!" (with an image of President Obama); and on and on and on.

Now, don't get me wrong. Every one of these messages is protected by the First Amendment, and people have a right to express their views, even in harsh, offensive, cruel, and moronic ways. We the People do not need to trust or admire our leaders, and we should not treat them with respect if we don't feel they deserve our respect. But the sheer vituperation directed at this President goes beyond any rational opposition and is, quite frankly, mind-boggling.

In part, of course, this might just be a product of our times. Perhaps the quality of our public discourse has sunk so low that any public official must now expect such treatment. Perhaps any president elected in 2008 would have been greeted with similar scorn and disdain. But, to be honest, that seems unlikely.

Of course, there are those who say that this phenomenon is due in part, perhaps in large part, to the fact that President Obama is African-American. But surely racism is dead in America today, right?

One fact that might lend some credence to the theory that racism has something to do with the tenor of the attacks on President Obama is that only one other president in our history has been the target of similar (though more subdued) personal attacks.

In his day, this president was castigated by the press and his political opponents as a "liar," a "despot," a "usurper," a "thief," a "monster," a "perjurer," an "ignoramus," a "swindler," a "tyrant," a "fiend," a "coward," a "buffoon," a "butcher," a "pirate," a "devil," and a "king." He was charged with being "cunning," "thickheaded," "heartless," "filthy," and "fanatical." He was accused of behaving "like a thief in the night," of being "the miserable tool of traitors and rebels," and of being "adrift on a current of racial fanaticism." He was labeled by his enemies "Abraham Africanus the First."

But, of course, race had nothing to do with it then, either.

Thanks in All Things!

In our seasons of challenges and adversities, let us find some time in our world of busyness to give thanks to the Almighty Father. There are people in our communities with only the clothes on their backs still able to smile to others who sometimes frown on them. Show your gratefulness by being kind and patient with others not only during this holiday season but throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving!

RIP, Colonel Anna Amos!

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Birthday, Momma!

I miss you!

November 4, 2014, Please Vote!

If you complain about the system, do something about it, vote! Your vote does count. It will make a difference!

Women at Heart!

Valerie Burton, Columbia  Metropolitan Convention Center, September 20, 2014

Valerie Burton was in Columbia this weekend as the keynote speaker at the Women at Heart event. It was a free heart health forum and exhibition. Valorie is a life coach, author, and motivational speaker. She is also the founder of the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute (CaPP). Even though we never met, our paths ran parallel because of her family and mine. My mother spoke very highly of Valerie. If Valerie is anything like her mom she is a beautiful person. I would like for you when you have the time to read some of her books and follow her web page.  She is very encouraging and inspirational. Thanks 'DV' for the picture!

Joe Sample - Old Places, Old Faces!!

Legendary pianist Joe Sample, who
was known for pushing the boundaries of jazz music, passed away Friday night in
his hometown of Houston
at the age of 75, his family announced on Facebook. The keyboardist, who
collaborated with artists like Miles Davis, B.B. King, Marvin Gaye and Steely
Dan, was best known as the founder of the Crusaders, a quartet that popularized
a soulful, funky sound in the 1960s and ’70s. Rest in Peace!

Cece Winans - More Than What I Wanted

Thank you!

We see miracles happen everyday but we do not notice them until they affect us or someone close to us.  I want to take the time to say thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Bates for being a miracle.  To God be the glory! God bless you and be with you, always!

Prayers in Time of Sickness!

Prayer in Time of Sickness

O Jesus, You suffered and died for us; You understand suffering;  Teach _(Name)_ to understand _(His/Her)_ suffering as You do; To bear it in union with You; To offer it with You to atone for _(His/Her)_ sins and to bring Your grace to souls in need. alm _(His/Her)_ fears;  increase _(His/Her)_ trust. May _(His/Her)_  gladly accept Your holy will and become more like You in trial. If it be Your will, restore _(His/Her)_ to health so that _(His/Her) may Work for Your honor and glory and the salvation of all men. Amen.

Mary, help of the sick, pray for me.

*** You may use this pray for others. If praying for yourself; (Name) and (His/Her) can be substituted with (Me).

Prayer for the Sick

Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the Sick, we turn to You in this time of illness. O dearest Comforter of the Troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with Your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in Your hands. We place our sick under Your care and humbly ask that You restore Your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your holy will and know that whatsoever You do, You do for the love of us.  Amen                                         

Source: A Collection of Favorite Prayers

*NEW* Marvin Winans - Draw me Close to You / Thy Will be Done

What Am I Supposed To Do Now, Lord?

What are we supposed to do when we go through adversity?  We seek God’s answer through prayers and supplications but we still do not hear from Him. It seems the more time we give, the longer we wait.  I know that it is God’s timing not my own but I can not help it since I think worldly.  I also know for a fact that God has not brought me this far to leave me now.  When we get too comfortable we do not want to change.  In fact, in our comfort zones, we take things for granted and when you take things for granted you do not miss them until they are gone.  When we face a crisis, we tend to look at the crisis instead of looking at God who is bigger than our crisis. Sometimes we do not see the good in things because we are concentrating on the bad. We lose sleep, weight, cry and get depressed when something in our lives change from what we were used to.

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat realized that he was about to face three armies and the odds were three against one.  Jehoshaphat realized his helplessness in the midst of this crisis. Fear gripped him because he knew that he could not stand against this united force. This great multitude was more than he could handle. He openly declares this to the Lord, "For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us" 2 Chronicles 20:12. He recognized that he was helpless in this midst of this crisis. He acknowledged that he could not deal with this crisis on his own.  Jehoshaphat accepted the fact that he was helpless and nothing in his own power could change it.

This sense of helplessness compelled him to pray, "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah." 2 Chronicles 20:3. He prayed because of his helplessness. And he did not mouth a superficial prayer. He prayed with intensity in this crisis. The text says that he "set himself to seek the Lord." He then proclaimed a fast. This fasting would only intensify his praying. He poured his heart out to God because He knew that only God could help. The root of this intense praying is his helplessness. That is why it is crucial to realize our helplessness in the midst of the crisis. The acknowledgment of our helplessness will drive us to pray. It will motivate us to seek the Lord and depend on Him for His strength, His solutions, and His direction. Helplessness is not a hindrance to prayer. It is actually a help to seeking God. Let our helplessness drive us to seek God. We cannot handle the crises of our lives and that we must pray as we face them and grow through them.

Our response to a crisis is often to find a solution. We try and work it out on our own to relieve the pain. Sometimes our pride makes us think that we can handle the crisis. Yet, our first response to a crisis should be to commit to seeking the Lord. The commitment of our heart must be, "Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are fixed on You." Our commitment must be to pray and wait on the Lord. There are times that God will answer us immediately in the midst of a crisis. Then, there are other times when God’s answer comes later. We live in an age of fast food, drive-through banking, and instant communication. We are used to instant gratification. As a child of God, we will be required to seek Him and wait on Him and His timing. Sometimes we will have to seek Him intensely and wait for Him. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7.

Jehoshaphat praised God in the midst of his crisis. He put his confidence in the greatness of God not in the power of man.  We need to do the same, concentrate on God’s character and love for us.  Remind him of the promises He made to us and accept His will.  The real pain is leaving our comfort zone for something better.  In the end, Jehoshaphat did not fight the battle, a loving and merciful God did.  In fact, God told Jehoshaphat to stand back and watch. God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer for help. His command was clear, "Listen, all you of Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." 2 Chronicles 20:15-17. God promised victory if they would trust in Him and stand firm. They experienced victory because they sought God, listened to Him, and obeyed Him.  Keep in mind that our battles can be sickness, drug independence, financial, marital and other issues that can cause crises.

When we are in the midst of a crisis, we must remember whose crisis it is. We must understand that it is God’s crisis. It is God’s opportunity to work in powerful and unique ways in our lives. This is His occasion to reveal Himself in new and fresh ways to us. It is His circumstance to show us how much He loves us and cares for us. I am not saying that everything that happens to us is good. There are a lot of crappy things that can happen to us. The crises that we face in life can be agonizing and devastating. Yet, at the same time, they can be opportunities for God to work in us, speak to us, and change us. They can be times for God to show us Himself as never before in our lives. We do not have to drown in fear and discouragement in the midst of crisis. Understand that this is God’s opportunity to work in our lives. The crises may be bad, but God is good. No matter how hard life gets, God is always good and merciful. He can take the crises of life and use them for His own glory and our good.

Praise God for being the Potter who shapes and molds our lives even through adversity. Praise God for being the generous God who pours out His blessings on us in the midst of adversity. Praise God for being the giving God who supplies our needs even in the midst of crisis.

I love you and appreciate you. God bless!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Rest In Peace, Joan Rivers!

Joan Rivers dead at 81! The native New Yorker, who became almost as famous for her unapologetic love of plastic surgery as her barbed humor, never recovered after going into cardiac and respiratory arrest Aug. 28. Melissa Rivers decided to take her mother off life support at The Mount Sinai Hospital eight days after she arrived at the facility.

Opportunities!

I don’t know where this precept came from but think about how many opportunities we already missed. That's the joy of learning from experience, you are never too old to learn something new.

"Think about the people in

YOUR WORLD.

There will be opportunities

every day

for you to open your arms…

To the ones you love…

To the strangers you don’t know.

They just might see a light in you that

will give them a

reason to believe in something bigger

than themselves…

Someone bigger than us all.

That’s something…

Something

worth leaving behind."

Anon.

Look Unto Jesus!

We are challenged to look beyond things and people.  Things and people can distract us from our God-given purpose in life.  The enemy wants us to concentrate on what we are going through not beyond our situation.  We have come through some things that even caused us nightmares but we did. God sometimes put us in a position to confront our fears. God wants us to turn our fears into faith.  We need to look to Him not to things or people because they can not do what He can.  We innocently rely on the wrong sources.  Sometimes we have to disconnect from these sources and connect with Jesus! We may consider our “arrival” in society as being successful with all the accouterments that we acquired along the way.  We forget the people who prayed on their knees every night and stuck by us everyday for asking God to help us.  We do not have a clue what situations they were going through because of their selfless love and faith.  The first sign of struggle that we had to face we cried out our woes and lose hope.  The enemy wants to destroy us and wants us to think we are alone. What happened to our faith?  Many people have gone through worse stuff than we have and they still do not give up.  They are not alone! They know that God is with them. They know the author of their faith is Jesus.  What Jesus starts, He finishes!  If the Lord will not fix the problem, it can not be fixed.  Our problem is when we want God to resolve our problem when we want it done. We forget that we are not in control and want our situation taken care of right now.  If we stay in faith, we will realize that it is not our timing but the Lord’s. The miracle is coming and for all we know it may already be there!  We get too caught in up in stuff that we do not even notice until afterwards.  Keep our eyes on Jesus and look beyond our situation!  And when your breakthrough comes, get on your knees and thank the Lord for His love and mercy. Do not forget this time and all of the times He has brought you through your struggles.  We all are living testimonies! Let us call on the name of Jesus! He did not die in vain for us! His love and mercy endures forever!

Focus!

Look beyond your situation. We focus sometimes on the wrong things.  Philippians 4:8; Think on positive and good things. Focus. Will we waste time focusing on the negative? We are more than conquerors. Deut 28:6; We are blessed coming in and going out. Find the good in the negative. We are children of the living God, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  God has blessed us with life. Change your focus. Job 22:28; Believe and decree! What are you focusing on? Look beyond your situation! 2 Kings 6:20; Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” We look at situations in the natural but not in the spiritual. Elisha's servant saw a disaster but Elisha saw a miracle. What do you see? The difference between Elisha and the servant was the anointing. Anointing allows you to look at the situation but not focus on it because you can see the hand of God working on your side. If the Lord is keeping you, why are you worried?  Praise God in the midst of your situation! The anointing destroys the yoke in your life! God has an army all around you! Do not be discouraged! Can you look beyond your situation? Can you see the miracles? Can you say that you trust the Lord?  Do you believe what you say? Focus on what God will do, not what the devil is doing. Lord, thank you for working in my behalf!

Do Not Let Fear Control Our Lives!

The enemy operates even more at your spiritual high. Be prepared for the enemies at what you think are your greatest moments. Jesus fed the thousands and the apostles were elated. Yet, after the miracle Jesus told the apostles to get on the boat and set out for the other side, he will be with them later. That night, a great storm took over their euphoria and they became frightful. They forgot who they were with and the miracle they left. Fear overwhelmed them and seeing Christ walking on the water that night scared them, too. They were afraid that he was a ghost. We all will experience fear sometime during our lives but we can't let it overcome us. When Peter was on the water with Jesus, fear almost caused him to drown. Christ asked why he doubted him.  Like Peter we become fearful because we don't think God will help us. We focus on the fear than focus on what God can do. Do we doubt the goodness of the Lord? Job 3:25. Job was afraid about his circumstances. Here are a few tips.

1) Look out for the unexpected storms that pop up in our lives. Don't give up in the middle of the storm, go through it! Don't let the storm stop you from your destination. Sometimes we go through things to see what God can do. The unexpected things bless us in unusual ways. 2) God sees our struggles and He knows when to show up. Sometimes the blessing is in the struggle. Do not despise your position. We are where God wants us to be. 3) We must look beyond our fears and keep the faith. Remember that His Hands are on us. Keep your eyes on Jesus because the enemy wants us to look elsewhere. In the midst of what terrifies us the most our eyes should be on the Lord, our God. We can not let fear control our lives! We must trust and keep our faith in God!

Rest in Peace, Don Pardo!

Don Pardo, the television and radio announcer whose distinctive voice-over style was widely imitated and recognizable on Saturday Night Live, died Monday in Arizona at the age of 96.

Tuning In To God’s Voice!

I went for my two mile walk around the lake today!  Walking helps calm my thoughts and take time to appreciate the beauty of nature.  I use the time to meditate, reflect and enjoy a peaceful walk.  I noticed that the shadows among the pathway were different than my early morning walks.  If it was not for the recognized landmarks, I thought I was going a different way.  It’s interesting how shadows can deceive you.  They cast doubts and fears like the same kind that cast fears and doubts in our lives.  Once they take over, they mislead us and often cause us to make wrong choices.  Fortunately, some of us manage to get back on track but not with any help of our own.  When we look back on the rough areas in our lives we sometimes thought that we would never make it, but we did.  Do not think that we were responsible for getting back on the path.  God loves us so much that He will not let us fail if we stay faithful to him as He does for us.  It is my choice that I tune in and listen for that quiet voice.  He will keep me on the right path and lead me in the right direction despite my trials.  Like Joyce Meyers said, “pray that we can see the treasures in our trials.”

Chow-Chow, the Emperor’s Guard Dog!

  

On my walk I met a very kind gentleman with a beautiful black Chow.  Her name was bear, even though she looked like a small lion.  The Chinese name for Chow-chow is puffy-lion dog. Bear weighed 89 pounds and very docile.  While Jonathan and I talked, she stretched out and relaxed.  In fact, Bear did not get up until three young ladies approached her directly and wanted to take her picture and pet her.  That was the only time that Bear barked, she did not care for people she did not know to get close to her.  Her fur was black and shiny and very soft according to Jonathan. 

We had a very interesting conversation, Jonathan was cordial and entertaining.  He has an ebook on Adjuster Stories.  You can guess that Jonathan was an insurance adjuster supervisor and wrote about the various experiences he had contact with.  Go to the website www.AdjusterStories.com Joshua, a Navy veteran has the right voice and tone for the talking book.

RIP, Lauren Bacall!

Lauren Bacall transitioned at 89 years young on August 12, 2014, after suffering a stroke at her home. Rest in Peace!

RIP, Robin Williams!

Robin Williams was found dead Monday, August 11, 2014. He was 63 years old. Rest in Peace!

Shirley Caesar - You Stayed

THE LION KING Broadway Cast Takes Over NYC Subway and Sings 'Circle Of L...

Curtis Mayfield The Making Of You!

My Prayer To You!

I pray for a speedy recovery, my friend.  I pray for good health and prosperity.  I pray that you take the time to appreciate yourself. I pray that whatever struggles you are going through you will overcome.  I pray that you find the inner strength to always maintain your confidence.  I pray that you will continue to fight against the destructive habits that try to destroy you and continue successfully to stay away from them.  I pray that you find divine guidance obtain wisdom and understanding.  I pray that the transition you are going through means you are mentally and spiritually growing on your journey. I pray that your grudges towards others will be removed and that peace be restored.  I pray that someday you will find the courage to forgive those that offended and hurt you. I pray that you will be united with the people you love long enough to tell them that you love them.  I pray that you learn to be grateful for the small things you are given as well as, the bountiful.

Analysis of Dissecting an Onion!

 God was skinning me layer by layer like someone peeling a thick onion.  One layer at a time peeled to each membrane that separates the onion’s layers.  Like a skilled surgeon, methodical and meticulous, he exposed my faults.  Parts of me were exposed that I did not know I had.  I could not tell the difference between pain or fear because both were overwhelming and unbearable.  I felt vulnerable and there was nothing I could do about it.  I felt like a baby who could not fend for itself, waiting for someone to take care of me.  I was broken.

Fear and distrust drove me to be the type of person I am.  It also kept me from being the type of person I should be.  I kept out people with interests different than mine and I thought they had other reasons to get close to me.  You are a great friend until you are no longer needed.  Most of us learned it the hard way. Don’t try to analyze me, I had a great childhood and loved my family and friends. 

I grew up in a time when society was segregated.  As young children, we could not understand why we could not drink out of the same water fountains as the white children.  We could not go in some restaurants but through the side door or servants’ entries.  I remembered my first trip to New York was waiting for the bus in a dusty baggage area instead of the clean waxed floor and air-conditioned waiting room as our counterparts.  They even had a water fountain, soda and a snack machine.  Our people would pack brown bag lunches for us filled with fried chicken that could last the duration. We had other snacks that would keep us full to avoid going in stores in unfamiliar towns.  We had to sit in the back of the bus.  Trains were not that different, it did get us to our destinations faster, but we were still told to sit in special box cars.  Blacks had to sit in balcony section in the movies but it never bothered me.

There were two societies back then, Negroes and Whites.  I look back and think of the labels we had from Colored, to Negro, Black and now African-American.  Black and African-American seems to be interchangeable now.  Senior black men were still called boy and whatever name that seem to fit at the time.  It was common not to be seen on the same social level. 

The Supreme Court ruling in 1896 in Plessy vs. Ferguson that separate facilities for whites and blacks were constitutional encouraged the passage of discriminatory laws that wiped out the gains made by blacks during Reconstruction.

On June 7, 1892, 30-year-old Homer Plessy was jailed for sitting in the "White" section of the East Louisiana Railroad. Plessy could easily pass for white but under Louisiana law, he was considered black despite his light complexion and therefore required to sit in the "Colored" boxcar. When Louisiana passed the Separate Car Act, legally segregating common carriers in 1892, a black civil rights organization decided to challenge the law in the courts. Plessy deliberately sat in the white section and identified himself as black. He was arrested and the case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Plessy's lawyer argued that the Separate Car Act violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments.  The Plessy decision set the precedent that "separate" facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were "equal." The "separate but equal" doctrine was quickly extended to cover many areas of public life, such as restaurants, theaters, restrooms, and public schools.

Many blacks are passing for white.  Why not?  They don’t want to be treated as their darker complexion brethren.  The master during slavery discriminated but didn’t see anything wrong with sleeping with the slave women.  Mixing enough can change the complexion of anyone.  The people you might think are white just might not be who you think.  Comments about being Blacks being the racists are nonsense.  They are distractions from the real racists.  When you are considered a second-class citizen, inferior and lazy that does not make you racists.  It makes you angry because you never had equal treatment because of your skin color.  No one can decide in what race or family you will be born in, no one.

The fact is that not much has changed in our society now.  Racism is a learned behavior and it passed down from generation to generation.  Somewhere within that generation it will stop.  How can a nation built on immigrants escaping from the abuse of their country find the time to be intolerant towards others, especially, when greed abused the Native Americans that already lived here and took their lands?

Jim Crow was the practice of discriminating against black people, through a set of laws passed in the Southern states, after they had earned their freedom from slavery.  These laws were enforced with extreme prejudice. Blacks could not vote until the late 60s. Congress responded to rampant discrimination against racial minorities in public accommodations and government services by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Act also included some voting rights protections: it required registrars to equally administer literacy tests in writing to each voter and to accept applications that contained minor errors, and it stated that persons with a sixth-grade education were sufficiently literate to vote. However, despite lobbying from civil rights leaders, the Act did not prohibit most forms of voting discrimination.

There were so much hatred towards people of color and it hasn’t changed much now.  I find it extremely perplexing that there have been so many polls on the Obama Administration and how they seem to cast fear in particular segments of society.  I question comments that he is “half-black” when I never seem to hear that he is “half-white.”  This is the mental block that not many people will admit.  The real fact is they do see him for his color and their fears are about what this black man will do to America.  A small section of society gets the most news.  The media loves these polls because it makes them money and stirs up hostilities.  The truth of the matter is if Congress had actually set out to work with the President, the polls would give different numbers.  Is it that easy to forget what the republicans stated that they will do everything in their power to make this a one-term President?  They decided that they will not work towards bringing America together, but separating it with partisan politics.  Personally, ask Mitt Romney and Eric Cantor about the polls.

Yet, I hear how much blacks hate whites just as much as whites hate them.  Do two wrongs make it right?  Instead of speculating why not talk to the other person civilly you might find that the frustration and disgust they feel about their unfair treatment.  A man might not have power and authority but if you disrespect or take away his dignity, you don’t know what to expect from him.

I have learned that hatred can come from the people you least expect.   Always, keep an open mind and do not be judgmental.  I experienced my own when I attended boarding school in New York.  My first night when I pulled my sheets back for bed, I found a small sheet of paper on my pillow that someone had written, “N*###h, go home.”  I don’t want to dwell in this area of racial hatred and discrimination too long.  We must learn not to stereotype everyone because of one or two people.  There are good and bad people in all areas in society.  You have to put the bad memories behind you and move forward.  Otherwise, it will stunt your spiritual growth.

“Be careful for what you pray for, you might get it.”  Depending on what you prayed for, you might get your answer but not the way you expected. God does have a sense of humor but not man’s sense of humor.  He will give you an answer and even though it was not what we expected, it was even better.

I started seeing my spiritual growth when my mother passed.  The day before she died, I knew it.  There was something deep inside of me that I felt.  I hugged her for the final time and told her it was okay and how much I loved her.  I also told her that I could not stay, I’m going home.  I’m not cold-hearted or insensitive but I could not bear seeing here leave.  I believed that my mother knew it because when I returned home, my brother called me and told me that she also went home.  He stayed in the room with her.  My mother meant a lot to me, she was my anchor and rock.

I learned a lot about treating people with respect and dignity from her.  It takes some time but it doesn’t hurt to be nice and kind.  She told me to always be true to myself.  It has gotten me into some serious situations and took a toll on me.  But I learned from the mistakes I made.  Yes, “this too shall pass.”  What was miraculous about some of these situations I never noticed when my “morning” came.  I was focused on the situation than God.  But, by the grace of God I was able to move on.

How often do we take our blessings for granted?  How often do we feel in control when the pressures of life burden us?  We can do one of two things; stay in faith and confront the situation or we can give up. We concentrate our time on the problem that we forget who is able to overcome them.  During these times, we don’t make the time to even notice our blessings just the adversities.  Even then, I have taken my blessings for granted.  I often thought of myself as being special, God’s favorite.  Yet, we are all children of God.  Somewhere along this journey being tossed back and forth with life’s stormy waves we forget that we are all children of God.  The fact is, we think that because of our failings and faults, God could never forgive us.

Jesus had his group whom he trusted and they were a lot worse than most of us.  But, they developed a relationship of love and trust with Him because they knew He would give them another opportunity to redeem themselves.  Their loyalty overcame their distrust.  They recognized Jesus’ vision and did their best to carry it out. They knew that they would face failures and obstacles but they trusted Christ enough that He would see them through.

It’s hard to convince someone that there is a light at the end of the tunnel when he can only see darkness.  If your life is miserable don’t make mine miserable, too.  Some make it worse by hurting themselves or others by taking the easy way out.  It’s not worth it.  The losses are greater than the loss they face.  We are all chosen for a purpose and some of us accept the challenge.  Of course, we don’t always know what that purpose is.  It’s a gut feeling that makes us passionate about what we do.  That’s why some people do so well in areas that we don’t think we can.  But those that are passionate about what they do are fulfilling a purpose that they were called to do, meant to do and get it done successfully.

Isn’t it interesting, that some people know early in life what they want to do?  Some are called to service, helping others. Others might have seen something traumatic happen in their lives and seek to do something positive about it.  It doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are doing it for the right reason, to bless others.  To follow your dream requires a lot of dedication and commitments that at the first adversity, we give up.  We may not get national or local recognition for the things we do for others.  Does it matter? We are doing something good for the kingdom of God.

My layers are being peeled back for reasons greater than my understanding.  All that I’ve been through have been for a reason.  I believe that you are never too old and that it’s never too late to do what you were meant to do and be.  Our bondage is limited to the way we think and our attitudes towards adversities.  We were meant to encourage, inspire and motivate each other to improve lives for all of us.  Humility, love, tolerance, patience and forgiveness, to name a few goals, are something to work towards.  They are not easy to achieve but we can try.  It takes sacrifices to work hard for something worth having.  It is no doubt that the enemy of man will do everything to distract our focus from achieving our goals.  That’s why we can’t do it by ourselves.  We must submit to a higher authority, our Creator within us, to help combat the works of the enemy.

I am convinced that we all have been given unique gifts. It’s up to us to find a way to use them.  We must be respectful and patient of others who may not share the same thoughts as us.  We don’t need people around us who can’t believe in us.  We don’t need the negativity.  Yes, we are chosen for a divine reason, we are not the only ones who believe in ourselves.  Our Lord believes in us and gives us the ability to comeback from our setbacks. 

To The Surviving Family Members of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17!

Our prayers are with you and the innocent victims of those that express hatred for all things good!  We pray also for civil unrest around the world and here in the United States!  There are too many areas to name!

Childlike Faith!

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15  (NLT).

Close your eyes for a minute, I hope that you are not driving while reading this. Think back to a time and place when you had no concerns or cares.  All that you wanted to do was just eat, play and sleep. Our only world was the one around us where we did not even know about paying bills, taxes or buying gas. Our parents took care of all that and many other grownup things that did not stress us out. We did not stress out too much because our priorities were different and we expected the grownups to take care of problems.

As a little boy, I played stickball in the street, climb trees, rode roller-skate go-carts and took risks never thinking of the consequence because a children we weren’t afraid of anything except the boogeyman. For those children who were blessed to have a father or grandfather in their lives while growing up seemed to have that their father or grandfather could do anything. They were bigger, stronger, and smarter who gave us just about whatever we wanted. They also got the biggest dinner plate but that was okay because they had to be strong. They also issued the discipline when mom felt that she could not get through to us.  

As I grew older with responsibilities, those worries that my parents had came rushing in. I had a job that I no longer enjoyed. I had bosses that I could not trust and my fears and doubts began to seep in. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated.  A door was closing and I could not keep it open.  The peculiar thing about it is that I had prayed for a change.  I just wanted it done my way. I forgot my faith in the present while too busy thinking about my future. I had bill collectors that didn’t care as long as I paid the bills on time. I had overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges but believed that God got me through even though my faith was not as strong as it should have been. As the years passed by, I began to dwell upon the days of my childhood, searching for the antidote to cure all those fears that were making me lose my way. My antidote was approaching God with childlike belief.

When I was young, I did not need to worry, my parents would take care of my problems.  I would bring my problems to them and expect them to handle it which they did. I had not developed my faith in God at the time but I sure had faith in my parents. I did believe in angels because of the pictures I saw with angels standing behind little children.  Also, my mom told me that everyone had a guardian angel especially children since they are innocent to the world's demands. The world has a way of leaving scars inside of you if you are not prepared. My memory of angels revived when they began to show themselves to me in adulthood. I knew they were angels because strangers walked up to me to tell everything will be alright and God is with you.  They were people I never met and never saw again.  It was at those moments that begin to lead me back to dependence in God.

My faith is growing stronger day by day but it is not easy.  My faith knows that God is always beside me and is always concerned about my well-being.  As I begin to let go and lean on God, I am becoming the man God wants me to be. I still have those days those worries try to overtake me -yet I refuse to be defeated. The pressures of this world want us to take our focus off of God.  He is my fortress and I will walk anywhere He leads, knowing God will never leave me.

So, the next time you feel yourself caught up in the fear of this world, close your eyes tightly for a moment and picture that child who walked without looking over their shoulders; the person you were before the world took it’s toll on you.

Today I pray that as you approach those trees in your life that remain unclimbed, you will grab onto a branch and go to new heights. I pray that God will never let you fall. And most of all, I pray, that as you are transformed through His will, you will have “the light of the world” right beside you every step of the way.

RIP, Meshach Taylor!

Meshach Taylor in Los Angeles in 1989.CreditImage by Nick Ut/Associated Press

Meshach Taylor, the actor best known as the friendly colleague of four Southern women on the popular sitcom “Designing Women,” died on Saturday, June 28, 2014, at his home near Los Angeles. He was 67.

Rest In Peace, Bobby Womack!

Bobby Womack passed on Friday, June 27, 2014 at 70 years of age.  His music will continue to live on in our hearts!

Bobby Womack - Harry Hippie

Bobby Womack - Thats The Way I Feel About You

Bobby Womack - "If You Think You're Lonely Now" Rest In Peace!