I AM SO AFRAID-OF ME!!

Care to watch a video clip? Here we go!!

I am reminded of Season 1, episode 5: Genesis 3: 12, "The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." Episode 1 is when God creates the heavens; Episode 2-He makes man: Episode 3: He makes woman: Episode 4: Adam and Eve are walking in total dominion: Episode 5: The Blame game-Disavowing responsibility is birthed.

Fast forward to July 20th, 2010; it seems like I am re-living Genesis 3:12 in a different light. This time, we have video evidence, compared to the days of Adam and Eve. Season 1 Episode 1: Who is Shirley Sherrod? Episode 2: The 24 Year old Story: Episode 3: Shirley Sherrod-Racist: Episode 4: Shirley Sherrod Fired: Episode 5: The blame game-disavowing responsibility re-established. I am still scratching my head at the story of Shirley Sherrod, former USDA Georgia State Rural Development Director. When Episode 1-5 of the Shirley Sherrod Show took place, The Agriculture Department, NAACP, Breitbart the Blogger (I choose to call him this), and Fox News, to mention a few, where quick to call on the resignation of Sherrod. In trying to defend herself, Sherrod was not heard, and forced to resign. Up until that point, she was the "Racist" who was not willing to help a white man-24 years ago.

Then the tables turned; the complete video clip, which earlier defamed her character because it was edited, to say the lest, was shown in its entirety. All of a sudden, everyone begins to back pedal, or apologize-at least that's what we think-wrong!! Kind of reminds me of a conversation The Teacher has with his student- “Don't jump to conclusions - there may be a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw. In the heat of an argument, don't betray confidences; Word is sure to get around, and no one will trust you.” (Proverbs 25:8-MSG) In short, NAACP, Fox News, Breitbart the Blogger, Ministry of Agriculture, “Don’t jump to conclusions,” or as another translation puts it, “Do not go out hastily to argue your case; otherwise what will you do in the end…?” (vs. 8: NASB).

As I listened and watched the Sherrod story unfold, my entire attitude was simple-even though I gasped at what I was seeing; “How guilty am I of the same actions of jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts?” “How easy is it for me to justify my actions with the limited information I have without considering ALL the facts and the other person?” “Have I taken the time to pray before passing judgment?” “Have I sought counsel before delivering on my actions?” I had to look at the Sherrod story as a wake up call for my own spiritual journey; truth be told, we all have some “Fox, NAACP, Breitbart the Blogger, Ministry of Agriculture, etc, Syndrome” in us-Jumping to conclusions, believing our conclusions, standing by our conclusions….UNTIL!!!

What is so amazing about this entire story was what happened after the ‘TRUTH” came out. The Obama Administration apologized and admitted they acted hastily; Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack apologized publicly and privately to Sherrod; The NAACP apologized; Fox News and Breitbart the blogger, who brought this to our “attention” decided to play the blame game. They asked the following questions: Did the Obama administration act too fast? Why did they rush to judgment without getting all the facts right?-it was their responsibility. (Hmm…interesting perspective-considering the media that broke the news did not do its homework either). The same news organization, which 24 hours earlier condemned Sherrod-played edited clips of the video in question-asked for her resignation immediately-all of a sudden 24 hours later, are blaming the whole world, but themselves. Did they publicly apologize to Sherrod for the half baked truth they presented? If you can call an apology mixed with criticism, defiance, to say the lest, an apology-then I guess YES? It was Episode 1, scene 5 of the book of Genesis-Playing the Blame Game-Disavowing Responsibility.

What has happened to HUMILITY? Is pride that steeped into our blood system that when we have wronged someone and driven their name through the mud, we still refuse to acknowledge our wrong doings?

What has happened to BROKENNESS? To be able to look someone in the eye and say, “You know what, I really did not do my homework and I judged you wrongly, I am truly sorry.”

Am I that DECEIVED that even in the midst of compelling evidence and facts, I still refuse to accept responsibility and blame every body else and not even take a shred of responsibility?

Am I so quick to jump to conclusions, make my case, justify my actions, and hurt someone so that I can come out on top? Am I that evil? Can I manipulate so easily and call it justice?

I was so afraid at what I saw unfold in the Sherrod story-afraid not so much for Fox News and whatever media outlet out there, but afraid for me, afraid of the evil that is bound up in the heart of humanity-that I can look at a circle and see its a circle, but choose to call it a square because its all relative. I am afraid for me when I choose to play the blame game with my actions and completely disavow responsibility. I am afraid of me, when I am wrong and I choose not to admit I am wrong-choosing to allow someone else to hurt so bad so that I can save face. I am afraid of me for what could become if I choose not to look at my fellow human being as someone who has feelings, breathes just like I do, and has a blood flow just like I do, but choose to consider them as an object-nothing more, nothing less. I am afraid of Me.

Jeremiah would agree with me when he writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10

I NEED HIS GRACE!!!

Have you ever had one of those “God rattling moments?” Minding your own business, but with a click of a remote control to change a channel, you hear someone say something and that one thing they said just ushers you into a different time zone and space? You begin to think of the implications of their statement and trying hard not to think about what they said? The statement, “We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us,” was no different. Why did I hear this? It was official-I become unsettled within me.

I think of this statement in grandiose situations and not so much grand-but each situation having the potential to change the course of history when it comes to time choosing the moment. Moses-had it grand Oholiab-not so grand. Paul, Grand; Simon of Cyrene-not so grand. Esther-Grand; The Slave girl-not so grand. For each of these characters, time had chosen then in their various capacities and they had a choice to respond.

Let us consider a few examples:

Nehemiah-Arise and Build: Nehemiah is known for rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem-a significant accomplishment. We have a book in his honor to prove the contribution he made to history.. His task was to arise, motivate, and engage the people to rebuild the walls of a city that was once known for its strength. He faced opposition-but the cause drove him on and he finished rebuilding the walls. In light of the statement we are considering, what walls do you have to rebuild? A broken relationship? A broken home? A broken community? You may not have chosen this time, but has time chosen you to rebuild the broken places?

Joiada-The Repairer: No book was written in his honor. He did not know he would play a significant role in repairing a fortress for a nation, but here was Joiada. What is said of him is simple. “The Old City Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam…they laid beams set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars.” I can imagine Joiada refusing to do this menial work because he wanted to be like Nehemiah. However, in 52 days, Joiada is known as a man, who prior to this, wondered how the walls would be repaired, as a repairer of the Old City Gate. What area is God calling you to repair? Not necessarily rebuild, but just repair something and bring it back to its rightful place? Has time come knocking for repairs?

Simon of Cyrene-The Cross Carrier: Of all the characters in the Bible, Simon of Cyrene is probably the only character that makes me draw back because he found himself in a predicament. I can safely say that Simon did not choose this time, but time came calling and chose him. Matthew 27:32 states, “Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.” Take a deep breath and think-he did not choose this, this was forced upon him. He could have flashed his human rights card and declared war of the soldiers, but in an instance, the severity of time choosing could not allow. What a privilege to carry the cross of Christ! An experience no other person in history can attest to but Simon. Yet in our present world, there are crosses that are being forced on us to carry and we are fighting tooth and nail not to carry them, instead of realizing that time has chosen us for this moment. It may not be grandiose, but it’s a call from the Master of the Cross.

I think of men and women who could have chosen a different path for their lives, but because time has chosen them, they cannot seem to run from it. They have sacrificed a lot to be the voice of a generation. I think of pastors who put their lives on the line for people and the same people are ungrateful and hateful, yet time has chosen them to hold that one hand that needs them. I think of when natural disasters happen and the world is at a standstill-wondering what to do, yet countless teams go and help out the afflicted. They leave their comfortable homes to sleep in tents so that they can hold that hand that is crying out. I think of people who serve nations, like the firefighters of September 11, 2001 who never saw the calamity that was about to take place. Yet, when time came calling, they had to respond and many lost their lives to save others. Time called them.

It’s not like people sign the dotted line and say, “I want to be born in this era, and I want all cards to fall according to what I want.”No! Its realizing that we may not have chosen the time, places, homes, we are currently connected to, but time is no respecter of all these things. When time chooses us, we need to brace ourselves for misunderstandings, lonely places, questions, but most of all, a back of steel, cause we will need it. Could it be that someone needs a deliverer? A cross carrier? A rebuilder of broken walls? We should not be afraid to face the future-we can change it because time is beckoning us!

The question remains, when time comes calling, will we be ready to respond accordingly?

Not Enough Tissues for my Issues.

Every once in a while my pastor, Bishop McBath, says something that make me wonder how in the world he comes up with such phrases. Last Sunday was no different. “Not enough tissues for my issues” was a phrase he used in reference to how, if we as Christians do not understand our fundamental purpose in life, which is a relationship/friendship with God, we will be Christians who are trying so hard to fulfill our purpose the incorrect way. In short, wanting to "play" God. This in the long run will cause heartaches for ourselves and others, that we will not have enough tissues to address our issues. 

As I pondered on the entire sermon with a few chuckles picturing Bishop making this statement and acting it out, I have to admit, we do not have enough tissues for our issues. Our issues, as Bishop explained, stem from our lack of developing our relationship/friendship with God. This leads us to being so caught up in our own insecurities, competition with others, jealousy, anger, to mention but a few, that we become a liability in God's kingdom. And when these emotions begin to take root in our hearts, no amount of tissues will wipe them away unless we return to our fundamental purpose, which is developing a friendship with God, because it is in this fundamental truth that we find our identity.

Granted, we cannot be oblivious to the fact that in as much as we need to develop our relationship with God, we are also human and prone to manifest other issues every so often.  However, the major issues that tissues cannot wipe, not minimizing the impact of the other issues, are those that deal with our purpose and identity in Christ. Should we choose to settle that dillema, we will need to be aware of what other issues to avoid-those that linger in the background, waiting to resurface at an opportune time, because they too can cause a whole lot of problems. 

1. Time: The writer of Ecclesiastes states, ‘There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven. (Ecc 3:1). Some of our issues deal with timing. We are either too slow to step out in such a hurry, we leave God behind. However, we need to be mindful when God says, “Go,” “Wait,” and “No.” In His time He makes all things beautiful. There are major consequences of failing to understand the times of God and this is when tissues becomes scarce to come by. Praise God that He is a God of a second chance and He can redeem time. But what better place to be in than to discern His timing always. Listen to that small voice. It pays to listen to it every once in a while, actually, always!

2. Self Reliance: As Bishop talked about David and how one of David’s DNA/purposes from God was that of a fighter, I was struck by the fact that David always went to God, submitting his DNA before His maker before every fight. (I Sam 30: 8) The times when David was quick to rely on his own strength, his conscience was quick to condemn him (I Sam 24: 3-7). The times when he completely ignored submitting his DNA before God, it was disastrous (II Sam. 24) Seventy Thousand men died that day because of David’s self reliance and his refusal to listen to godly counsel. Talk about the responsibility one feels knowing they caused all the heartache. May we never be self reliant in the giftings God has endowed us with otherwise we may not have enough tissues to wipe away our issues because we destroy people's lives.

3. Unforgiveness: One of the reasons I believe we find it hard to forgive is because we try so hard to make the other people "suffer" the consequences-the cold shoulder syndrome. No amount of "justified" unforgiveness will get God to side with us.  One of the benefits of being a friend of God is knowing that we have the ability to walk in forgiveness to forgive othes. Take for instance the dispute between Paul and Barnabas over Mark (Acts 15: 36-41) Paul did not want to take Mark on this particular journey whereas Barnabas wanted him to come along. Regardless of the reasons of why Paul or Barnabas felt differently about the situation, one thing is clear-they both went their separate ways. Even though we are not told of how this situation was ever resolved, it is clear that Paul needed Mark during the later part of his ministry journey. II Tim 4: 11 says this of Paul referring to Mark, “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.” Paul had to acknowledge his wrong, forgive himself and Mark before he could request his help. How many relationships are destroyed because of unforgiveness because we choose to look at things from "our" point of view and disregard others? If Paul was unrepentant, he would have been a man of many sorrows and never having mad a lasting legacy like he has done for the Christian faith.

The list is endless of issues that we can ignore that can affect us greatly in fulfilling that which God has called us to become. It is not too late though to turn the situation around. What we need to do is simple. It starts with God:

• Ensure that our greatest desire is to be a friend of God. This relationship is one that needs to be cultivated every day through prayer and reading the Word. Once this relationship is on the rise, we are more apt to walk with the mind of Christ and our actions will reflect such a transformation.  
• We will also need to be honest with self and deal with issues as they come. Just because we have began a journey of developing a relationship/friendship with God does not mean we are issue free. For as long as we are in this body, be assured that we will need to go through classes designed by God which enable us to address issues to make us better, loving, caring, forgiving, and merciful people. 
  

We do have enough tissues for the issues that God brings to the surface of our hearts like being burdened for the lost, the oppressed, the sick, etc. It is in these situations that we do have enough tissues to see us through because we are in right partnership with God to work them out with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Polls that Really Matter

I have had the privilege of witnessing three presidential elections while living in the USA. Needless to say, none have been more intriguing than those of 2008. These elections are historical. There are currently three viable candidates: a war hero at 72 (never stop dreaming); the first woman candidate; and the first African America male to get this far in the race. Intriguing indeed.

One thing that has also intrigued me are the polling statistics. Each week the polls are changing, favoring one candidate over the other. The Republican Party already has their presumptive nominee, while the Democratic Party is still battling it out between Senators' Clinton and Obama. Since the Democratic Party is yet to have their presumptive nominee, each candidate is using the polling data to make their case of electability. The interesting thing though about these polls is that the change based on what the candidates or their surrogates have said. What is even more interesting is this, depending on which network one gets their information from, the polling statistics are all different. Some show McCain defeating Clinton. Some Show Clinton defeating McCain. Some show Obama defeating McCain. Still, some show McCain defeating Obama. All these polls are released weekly…and one is left to wonder which polls to believe…if each network claims its accuracy.

There are those who, regardless of what their candidate says or what the polls are reflecting, will stand by them…even if the candidates says the moon is green, when its not. They are loyalists to the core. And then there are those people who are still on the fence trying to decide who they will vote for, depending on how the candidates fair during the week…sometimes a dangerous way of making a decision. As I have intently observed these elections, I have realized that, indeed, it takes guts to not be swayed by polls.

In as much as we have been paying attention to the polls and the candidates, there is a poll and its candidate who is forever established, regardless of what we feel, how we feel, or what the candidate says. He will not have to concede a point. He will not have to denounce or reject a statement or an endorsement. He will never flip flop on a decision. He is not disingenuous. He does not mis-speak. He does not get his "facts" wrong. He is the living God.

Sometimes I believe we approach God the way we are approaching these elections-What will He say to please me so that I can cast my vote for Him? What will He do so that I can vote for Him? Does He have His facts right? Will He change His mind? Can I trust Him? Maybe I will trust Him next week when He blesses me...maybe I will make my decision then!

Here is a reality though about this candidate and His Polls:

What He has said has been established since time immemorial. He does not have to lure us to be impressed. He is who He says He is, whether we agree with Him or not. His polling stats on this record are at an alarming 100 points margin of victory.

He does not have to retract His words, apologize for what He says. His word is forever established in the heavens. His polling stats on this record are also at an alarming 100 points margin of victory:
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” (Heb 4:12-13)

His endorsements come from Himself because He is the creator of the universe. He does not have to apologize to anyone for His own endorsements. His polling stats on this record are at an alarming 100 points margin of victory. “I am who I say I am” (Ex 3:14)

He is not losing or winning by double digits. He is forever established as the winner, at triple digits…100 points:
“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." (I Tim 6: 15-17)

When our hearts are fickle, turned to and from based on the voices we hear in this political season, His voice is constant; His heart towards us is not fickle. He understands we are human, so when we are faithless, He remains faithful. Need I say an alarming 100 points margin of victory on this too?

His campaign team consists of three total (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). They are all about seeing that no one should perish, but that all should come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The only campaign God is out to destroy is the campaign of Satan, his demons, and his works. These works include unforgiveness, worry, lies, adultery, envy, hatred, and prejudice-in short sin and its effects. God has a support staff to combat Satan’s campaign. And who is this support staff on this campaign trail? We the church, the body of Christ!! It is our responsibility to take orders from the Chief Campaigner and His strategist to defeat Satan.

If the church can campaign against the works of Satan and take a stand the way these candidates are campaigning against each other to be in office, this would be a different world!!

Yes, this election year is intriguing, but whatever the outcome, whoever the nominee, one thing can be certain; the candidates will never be the true saviors of the world. There is only one savior and that is Jesus Christ. They will never fulfill all the promises they make to the people listening to them. There is only one God who can fulfill His promises to His people. "He watches over His word to fulfill it," not man's words.

The polls will continue to change between now and the general elections, until we have the next President of the United States of America. But there is a candidate whose polls will never change. He is always in office. He does not have to be re-elected. He does not have to raise money to remain in the race. His polling stats on this record are at an alarming 100 points margin of victory. He is God!

I suggest these are the poll numbers we seriously consider as we journey on the stage called life.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor 15:58)

Finding Your Signal

Shrine Mont Hotel, located in Orkney Springs, Virginia, in the Shenandoah valley, is a perfect get away; a beautiful, tranquil place, surrounded by majestic mountains. You hear the birds singing; you feel the soft wind blowing across your face; you see the flowers blooming on the almost 1000 acres of land in the Spring; the grass is deep green, healthy and welcoming to sit on, relax, and have a picnic. The water creeks surrounding the property make it all the more gorgeous. A great hide away.

With all its beauty, tranquility, majestic mountains, and the well-maintained lawn, Shrine Mont can frustrate the person who is dependent on a cell phone. I have seen countless times, yours truly included, when students who come here for the purposes of a retreat, have tried to make calls to their families while on the Shrine Mont property, but to no avail. One will either have to walk or drive 2 miles to the Bryce Resort to get a signal or hike up a mountain, or the outdoor cathedral, located on an incline, a 5 minute walk, to get a signal. What is even more interesting is this: If you leave your cell phone on, the battery drains so quickly because the phone is searching for a network. It takes about three days for my phone to have a low battery, with my going back and forth texting or talking. Shrine Mont shatters the record. My battery can drain within two hours without texting or talking, but because the phone is working so hard trying to find a network.

The cell phone DNA is such that it only operates in conjunction with a network company. These networks insure that there are network towers to transmit signals all across the nation in order for the phones to be functional. Without the networks and towers in place, we can forgo the concept of cell phones. Even the most sophisticated, high-tech cell phones will not work in a place like Shrine Mont, unless you leave the premises and find yourself a location that can pick up a signal from nearby towers.

When I think about finding our networks and towers, I am reminded of our creator, God the father. In Genesis 1: 26, 27, God declares:

“Let us make man in our own image, according to our likeness. God created man in His own image. In the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

So here is God, as a manufacturer, implanting the DNA in humanity that will allow them to function at their highest level. The DNA is such that humanity will have to be in close proximity to the network (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The towers (abiding presence) are around us as we travel on this journey called life. The network does not change in the Kingdom, but the network has provided towers on the highways and byways to be in constant communication, as we stay connected to the network.

The disconnect comes into play when we leave the network and there are no towers in sight to transmit the much needed signal to communicate. When that happens, we then begin to work in overdrive because we are now disconnected from lines, wires, specs, in short, our kingdom DNA that make us function. We drain easily and eventually burn out. We can recharge our batteries (short lived “revival”), but for as long as we are not within the network limits and its towers, the cycle will continue. What’s the point of even charging the phone if one knows they will not even get a signal for as long as they choose to stay in the environment that does not provide the network?

What disconnects us from the heavenly network? Could it be that what we watch or listen to is cutting us off from our network? Could it be that where we are working is not the place where God would want to work, and the more we fight to stay there, the more we are in overdrive and draining so quickly? Could it be that the relationships we are in are draining us because they are cutting us from our kingdom network? Could it be that it is just us? No one to blame, no work to blame, but us? Because life has dealt us with so many disappointments that we have consciously chosen not to stay connected to the network because we felt let down so many times and now we question why we have to trust a God who has disappointed us? Not a bad reason not to trust God and stay connected to His network. I wish I could leave it at that, but I cannot.

In John 10:10, Jesus states, “The thief comes ONLY to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The Psalmist declares in chapter 138:8, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of your hands.”

This communication comes from the network of heaven. He knows and He understands. When we feel let down, when those relationships are draining, when life seems unfair, the heavenly network understands. But they are also encouraging us to believe in them as they declare, “I will never leave you nor forsake” (though we feel forsaken). “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you (even when we do not feel like casting our cares on Him). “I know the plans I have for you” (even when we think God has missed it all). He is not afraid of where we are because He understands; He created us and nothing can faze Him.

We cannot afford to lose our signal with our heavenly network; not when the world is screaming a different gospel, a different lifestyle, and a different way of communication. It is imperative to stay connected to Him because He has the words of life. The SIGNAL.

How do we stay connected to our heavenly network for that special signal. It’s simple-abiding in His word even when we do not feel like it. Praying even when we feel like God is not paying attention. Not forsaking the meeting of believers so that we can be encouraged always.

Shrine Mont, with all its beauty can be frustrating to a cell phone user. Much frustration, with detrimental eternal consequences is not finding that signal with God.

It is always a joy to see the students drive down to the resort, or hike up the mountain to try and find that signal and come back beaming because they were able to connect with their loved ones. I can only imagine what God feels like if we become intentional in seeking Him out till we find Him? A smile on His face maybe? I just wonder.

The End Word

I got a text from Ron asking me to check out a website and share my thoughts about the contents on the site. I typed in the address given and the subject lines I saw on this particular website were a little disturbing. Just to make sure I was not overacting, I summoned a friend to check out the site and she too was somewhat taken aback. I texted Ron back just to verify if that was the site he had wanted me to see. His response was, ?...www......com. Maybe it is org, but it should be correct. What's the problem?" You dowanna know!!! I thought to myself and then told him the contents of the site. His response, "Thats not the site...I will check when I get back to the office."

Instead of waiting on him, I tried .org at the end of the web address and boy, was there a difference. One little end word made the difference. Com or Org! .org gave life, .com gave death. .org inspired, .com caused one to retreat. Org encouraged you to read its contents, .com made you shy away from them. One small end word. Interesting how words have an effect all across the board. Words make or break a person. Just like org or com can have a significant difference in presenting its contents, written or spoken words can have significant effects on each one of us. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God...In Him was life and the life was the light of men." This beginning word carries with it life. A life that can be lived out to its fullest. Proverbs 18: 21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit." Words also have the potential for death.

Every day we are given the opportunity to have life end words, but we fail. I must say I am sometimes guilty of wanting to have the last word with the .com effect to make and prove my point. More often than not, it backfires because you realize that it is not worth the trouble. Proverbs 17: 27 says it best. "He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding." Depending on how we utter our words makes us wise or foolish. It is, after all our choice. The words are ours!

Proverbs 16:24 says, "pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Words provide healing if we let them. What is so special about words anyway? Life; that is what is special. Words we speak or write carry with them life. Ever wondered why we read God's Word? Because it gives us life. Ever wonder why God speaks to us? Because His words give life. If we truly understood the magnitude of what our written or spoken words do, we would be more careful speaking and responding.

Looking at the two websites, two groups of people chose to write words that would either build a society or tear one down. The end words made a difference concerning what would shape or define what we consider to be worth to the human spirit. Each day we have a choice. A choice to build or to tear down. A choice to enrich a life or discredit a life. A choice to encourage or discourage. Words are just not words. They are life or they are death. May we challenge each other each day to speak words that build. We can either be a .com or a .org an end word which can be an urgent of transformation.

Missing God in the Transition

"Missing God in the transition," is a statement my pastor, Bishop McBath, made in reference to the rich young ruler, as he preached on Sunday. I dwelt on that statement for a while, my mind losing focus on the preaching, as I tried to make sense of the statement. Realizing I drifted in thought, I quickly turned my attention back to the preaching, knowing that the statement made was something God was highlighting for me to address at some point.

Here I am, a few days later still stuck on the statement, "missing God in the transition." I have had enough time to ask myself the tough question, "Have I missed God in His transitions?" The answer- Yes!

Transition defined is, "the act of passing from one state or place to the next," or "an event that results in a transformation." One can be certain of this about transition; it does not allow you to stay in the same place; you can fight it all you want, but it will let you know, "I am here," and until you transition to the expected state, you and I will be miserable.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, transitioning people from one state to another was his goal, it be in thoughts, in deeds, in health, and in words. However, more often than not, the people missed His transitions. Case in point, Jesus tells the rich young ruler, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me" (Mt 19:21). The rich young ruler's response was very telling. "But when the rich young ruler heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property."(Vs. 22) He missed Jesus’ transition because the young man focused on his property, instead of what Jesus was offering.

How could this rich young ruler be grieved at the author of life when He, the author, was offering the life that the young man desired? It is easy to ask this question when we are on the outside looking in, but we are all guilty of missing God in his transitions.

Three reasons come to mind on how we miss God in the transition.

• The Picture is not clear: Most times when we approach God, we want Him to give us a clear picture of what our lives should be, i.e., before I relocate, I need to know where I will work, how much I will make, and what my house will look like, etc. There is nothing wrong with this expectation, except God tells us to, "Go to a land I will show you," (Gen 12: 1) and not a land I "have" shown you. "Follow me and I will make you fishers or men," (Mt. 4:19), not follow me because I "Have" made you fishers of men. The picture becomes clearer as we follow.

• The Assignment is too daunting: Interesting how the Gospel describes the rich young ruler. He is first rich, he is then young, and he rules. To transition him, Jesus reaches to the very core of his identity; to give it all up. Yes, he could have given it up, but would he have risked being poor and not rule (I assume his money gave him some kind of power to rule), at the expense of his reputation? The assignment to do such a thing was too daunting, hence he settled, when he was supposed to have transitioned.

• The Timing is not right: I heard Dr. Samuel Chand say, "When you are 100% sure, you are too late." We approach life with an attitude of, "it needs to feel right" before we can make that change. However, I am yet to come across a situation in my life or in the Word were the timing felt 100% right. "In His time, He makes all things beautiful," (Ecc 3:11), not our time. When those who wanted to follow Jesus needed more time to finish off personal business, Jesus had this to say, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God."

Other reasons can be given as to why we miss God in transitions; lack of trust, lack of faith, fear of the unknown, the list is endless. But is it really worth it to miss God in His transitions of our lives because of our own insecurities towards Him, not so much the situation? I believe it is worth the risk to go for it with God and not be afraid of the transitions because God's transitions always leads to transformation. All He is asking is for us to believe Him when He says, "I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you a hope and an expected end. " (Jeremiah 29:11).

May we not miss God in His transitions.

My Space or His Space?

The first time I heard the term "my space" is when I came to the United States of America. I had arrived at my dorm room and discovered that I would be sharing a room with one other person. Having settled in and having met my new roommate, I figured I could clean our room because it was “messy.” Having been raised in Zambia, particularly by the kind of mother I have, when you clean the house, you clean every area of every room. Everyone's space is your space. It was therefore no big deal that I ventured to clean my roommate's "space," putting her shoes in order, dusting her drawers, and then vacuum the room (mission accomplished).

Unbeknown to me, this was very offensive to her, and maybe the culture because I had invaded her space. The nerve I had to even touch her stuff, let allow, rearrange her shoes. I apologized and I never cleaned her side of the room ever again. Her space was her space and not mine. Lesson one!

The second time I heard the term “my space” was in reference to the Internet. My Space is a social interface program that allows you to send messages to friends, share pictures, post comments, upload videos, etc. To access someone's account, you either have to be invited to be their friend, or their account is open to the public, like those for musicians or politicians who want to connect with people. The account holders’ set up these sites. You cannot just get on a site and do what you want, unless you have been given permission. It is their space and they set the rules.

In retrospect, my space, even by its given name, speaks to the personal image, privacy, boundaries, conditions, restrictions, and the list can go on and on. Bottom line, its about you and me!!!

I must admit, the "my space" syndrome has somewhat rubbed onto me. Some of the things that never bothered me when I was back home in Zambia bother me now; like having someone stop by unannounced for a visit. Sometimes I hear my internal thoughts asking, "You know my number, why did you not call to tell me you were coming?" And of course, if truth were told, I have caller ID, so even if you did call, I have the option of ignoring the phone. It is my phone and it is my space. Unfortunately, My Space can be found guilty. Why do I say so?

Try having my space with God! It doesn't work! If it does, I have one conclusion; you are miserable and struggling in your life.

Sometimes, if not most times, we treat God as though He has a "my space" account with us. He is invading our space. We want to screen His calls; ignore the door when He knocks; get upset when He rearranges our stuff, and refuse to add Him as a friend. He is there quite all right, but He is almost like a mannequin. If we give Him open access, it is based on our terms and not His. The last time I checked out this kind of attitude, it did not sit well with God. He has a way to demonstrating that He is God and we are not.

For starters, we are made in His image. Genesis 1: 26,27 states:

"Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Based on this scripture, we know that we were created in “His space” so where do we get the idea that it is "my space?" Try selling the thought of my space to the disciples. Jesus walked right into their lives and disrupted their spaces quite all right. In the Gospels when the disciples were attending to their spaces, Jesus did not come and ask them if He could come and be a part of their space; NO! He walked right up to them and said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16; Luke 5: 27; John 1: 43.

So much for their space! In other instances, Jesus challenged people to crucify self and serve others, as demonstrated by Him washing His disciples feet, ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry and raising the dead.

I can hear the voices saying, well Jesus took time alone from the crowd. Jesus set boundaries. He had His space. You are correct. I am not suggesting that every single time people come calling that we do what they are asking us to do. Some people can be manipulative, so we need to be discerning with each encounter. What I am suggesting is that we examine our motives and find out why we react the way we do when our space is invaded.

The difference between Jesus' my space and what we call my space today is simple; Jesus retreated to seek the face of His father to be strengthened for the mission and to also renew His relationship with the father (Luke 6: 12). Jesus knew why He came to earth as he explained clearly to His disciples in John 4: 34, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work." Jesus welcomed the unannounced visitors; He welcomed being "rearranged" by God (try leaving a home where you walked on gold and you are worshiped 24/7 and then you come to earth were you are ridiculed and insulted for 3 years-that's a major rearrangement). He never screened His calls, cause if He did, the woman with the issue of blood would not have been healed; the woman at the well would not have been delivered; the wedding at Cana would not have had a happy ending.

I believe the notion on "my space" comes from an area of selfishness, if we really want to be honest, or a place of fear, because we do not want people to see who we really are. But I challenge us today to really consider this thing we call my space. Is this life really our own space or is this life God's space? When God invades our space, it is not to make us feel less human, prisoners who have no hope of ever having fun, miserable Christians who cannot tell if they are coming or going! God's space is that of love, fulfillment, purpose, making a difference in the lives of others, enjoying God's grace and mercy.

This is my question: My space or His space?

A Journal's Journey

Every once in a while, I take my journals and read through what I have written. One of the reasons I do this is to revisit what I was going through then, how I overcame (if I did), and were I am now as it relates to a particular situation. It is always interesting to see the different expressions of my language as each entry was written. Some of the expressions gave a sense of despair, others joy, while others gave a glimpse of how irritable I was on a particular day.

Today, January 22nd, 2008,was one of those days I picked up my journal, and out of curiosity, I wanted to find out what was going through my mind on January 22nd, 2007. Was I sad, happy, irritable, or in despair? I had to laugh when I saw the entry, "The Colts won! We are going to the super bowl" in caps!!! That was a joyous moment indeed.

How one year can change things because the Colts are not going to the super bowl this year.

The journal allowed me to go back in time to re-live the moment, but also bring me back to the reality of life.

Other entries showed a consistent issue I was struggling with-understanding God's love and acceptance of me. I went back about 3 years and saw that the struggle I had then was still the struggle I had in 2008. It was at that moment when I said, "enough is enough. I know God loves me and He accepts me the way I am. This struggle has to come to an end because the enemy is having a field day over this issue." It was as if something snapped in me and my whole perception of God's love towards me was viewed with a new set of eyes. A journey I took in the journal made me come to terms with the struggle and thankfully, a decision to take a stand in understanding God's love.

It got me thinking about God keeping a journal about my life. I wonder what He reads about me every day. The beautiful thing is that God's journal concerning my life is already written and is complete. All that He needs to do is go to January 22, 2008 and see if what He wrote about me then lines up with what I have done on January 22, 2008 now. There are some journal entries that He has written down that I believe He is hoping I get.

I believe some of the entries points could be as follows:

* He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6)
* The Lord will accomplish everything that concerns me (Psalms 138: 8)
* He is my very present help in time of need (Psalms 46:1)
* Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46: 10)
* Cast all your cares on me because I care for you (I Peter 5:7)
* For I know the plans I have for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
* Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

I wonder if He turns the page and the entry for the day is, "Wait for the Lord: Be strong and let your heart take courage, Yes, wait on the Lord," (Psalms 27:14 NASB), but when He sees me, I am impatient, trying to figure out what He wants me to do. I am weak and I have lost courage. A conflict in the journal entry between the author of life and the life He is offering to the recipient.

How do I resolve the conflict?

By willing to trust that the author of Life because He has the complete journal of my life.

I believe God’s journal for our lives is His Word, along with the specific dreams and visions He has placed in our lives. We can always go back and find a point of reference were reading that particular scripture changed us for the better, or challenged us to grow, love more, or even rebuke us when we have missed it. God’s journal for our lives is complete. We see it everyday, but do we apply what we see in our lives?

My prayer is that the journey that God took to write us in His journal will bear the much needed fruit, that as He turns the pages of the journal, we are turning our lives in accordance with the pages that He has written-It is a beautiful journal, if we can only read it and align ourselves to it.

Cruise Control

For the many times I have taken road trips, I have never used the Cruise Control system because I have been told that using it makes one burn more gas. I will have to look into that claim. One of the advantages though to using cruise control, is the fact that you allow your feet to relax, provided there is no traffic slowing you down.

Having seen Leah use the system as she drove, I figured I would use it when my turn came. Driving twenty hours from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Carthage, Missouri, was an adventure. Leah, and her two kids Hanna and Trevor, had invited me to spend Christmas with them and her family. I was excited, looking forward to the trip and meeting up with her family. Twenty hours did not seem like such a big deal, especially if we would be taking turns helping each other drive.


The roads and the weather were clear. The speed limit was 70 miles per hour-perfect. As I took over to drive, I ventured to set the cruise control at 75 miles per hour. What I experienced right after was not what I had anticipated. I felt like I had lost control of my driving. My right foot felt like it had no purpose. The temptation to step on the gas paddle was so strong, even though there was no need to do so, the car was in cruise control mode. On a few occasions, allow me to be honest, I succumbed to stepping on the gas or break paddle because I thought I was losing my mind not having control of the driving. This went on for a good twenty minutes as I tried to be comfortable with the cruise control. At one point in those twenty some minutes, I was so tense, I could feel my shoulders tighten and my neck hurting, I wondered if it was worth using the system. Regardless, I stayed with it until I become comfortable in letting it take over and the journey become more delightful.

Me being me, I try to learn lessons from things I go through or encounter whenever I can and this cruise control was becoming a lesson in and of itself. The lesson of control and letting go was evident...thanks to a technical system. A part of me wanted to let go to allow myself the luxury of letting the system take control, but a part of me wanted to control the system because that is all I knew to do. Sounds like the battle I have with Lord most times, the feeling of Him telling me to let go and let Him take over, and me fighting to hold on to stuff because that is all I know to do. In the process of these battles, I tense up because I know God knows more than I do, but the idea of letting go is so foreign that it is borderline frightening.

But I have to let go for my own benefit. Proverbs 21:24 states, "Man's ways are ordained by the Lord, how then can he understand his ways?" God is the one who understands us and knows what is absolutely beneficial and He is relentless at wanting us to know that lesson. He will go the extra mile to drive that point across-case in point, Matthew 11: 28-30
states:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

John 7: 37 states, "... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink."

God is relentless and He will continue being such until we get comfortable with Him running our lives.

My perception of God sometimes is what makes it difficult for me to give Him full control of my life. I sometimes look at Him as a fellow human being:

1. It feels like I am burdening Him with all my problems and I do not want to come across needy to Him.
2. He cannot fully help me out because when I needed Him to "come through" the last time, He did not and that kind of left me hanging and hurt.
3. He is not really that concerned about what I am going through right now, so I might as well do it myself.
   

The list can go on about why I struggle giving God control of my life, and with every excuse I have, whether it feels legitimate and all, it does not justify the reason why I cannot trust God to lead my life. He is the one who "leads us to green pastures." He is the one who says, "Cast all your cares on me because I care for you." He is the one who declares, "He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Life is full of ups and downs, and there will be times we will NEVER understand why things happen the way the do, but that does not take away from God being God and Him wanting to lead us on the path of abundant life.

As I got comfortable with the cruise control, I prayed a simple prayer to God. "Lord help me be comfortable with you leading my life. I pray that I let go of the gas and break paddle in my life as you drive me. Please open my eyes so that I can enjoy this journey because I am utilizing what has so freely being given to me, your lead. Please cruise control my life Lord."

God Dreaming Through You

I once heard Oprah Winfrey say, “God has bigger dreams than you have for yourself.” For some reason, that statement sparked something in me that I have not been able to shake off. I have known that God wants to use me, no doubt, however, something about “God has bigger dreams that you have for yourself” did something for me. A few months later, one of my professors, while teaching in class said, “God is dreaming through you.” That did it for me-my quest for needing to know what God is dreaming through me and how He will fulfill those dreams has been my passion.

I believe each one of us has a dream. One of my greatest dreams was to come to the USA to go to school and I remember telling God, “If you open doors for me to go to America, I will believe you for ANYTHING and it will come to pass;” I will have to live with that confession because God knows I have had my share of struggle when it comes to believing Him for anything! A week in the States would have satisfied my curiosity of believing in my dream-11 years later and counting, I am still in awe at how God “came through.”

Being a sports fanatic, I have dreams I want to see fulfilled (Going to an NFL, NBA, MLB game…preferably to all games of my favorite teams). The list can go and on. I remember when my friend surprised me and took me to an NBA game, I was ecstatic. At my age, you would have thought I was 3 years old who had just been given the best candy in the world. The excitement, the atmosphere, seeing the players at American Airlines in Dallas, Texas was amazing. I could not believe this was happening. My NBA dream was realized...well, a part of it because I am believing to go to an NBA finals game.

What I have described above are dreams that in the long run do not have an effect on eternity (other than the plans that God has revealed and allowed me to walk in while living in the USA). God is awesome in that He honors our dreams, from the smallest non-essentials, I call them, to the greatest essentials. Therefore, if He can honor our dreams that are “non-essentials,” how much more does He have dreams in Him for us that He wants to see fulfilled that have eternal value?

The first glimpse we see of God dreaming bigger dreams for us is when He declares, “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out; plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jeremiah 29:11-The Message Bible). God’s dreams for us are centered on purpose that translates to eternity, which brings about fulfillment.

What kind of dreams does God dream through us?

¨ Being the instruments that He will use to bring men and women to the saving grace of God:
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS.” (Romans 10: 14-15 NRS)

¨ Being instruments who will see people who are bound, heart broken, prisoners in the spirit, being set free from the bondage of Satan:
“…He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed. To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 18-19 NRS)

¨ Being instruments He will use to see the fabric of our society flourish and become what it was meant to be and not be destroyed by lawlessness and disobedience:
“…You see the bad situation we are in, that Jerusalem (you can replace it with your own city name) is desolate (physically and spiritually) and its gates burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.” (Nehemiah 2:17 NRS)

¨ Being instruments He will use to bless people in every way imaginable, from the least act of service to the greatest act of service:
“And I will make you a great nation, and I will you and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessings; and I will bless those you bless…and in you all families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12: 2-3 NRS)

Two dreamers come to mind when I think of men and women who allowed themselves to dream on behalf of God; Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Theresa.

Martin Luther King Jr., a civil right’s activist, known also for his, “I have a dream” speech dreamed of a different kind of America for his Children for America: An excerpt from the speech:

“…Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream…I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight…”

Mother Theresa also dreamed:

"We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing."

Both individuals chose to believe in the power of the dream God gave them for a better society and humanity. Against all odds, difficulties, challenges, oppression, to mention but a few, they fought to see their dreams realized because their dreams were birthed by God and grew in God!
Again, I go back to the question I asked earlier: What kind of dreams does God want to dream through us? If we know, may we cultivate those dreams until they become a part of us, a dream so strong that nothing will stand in its path. If we do not know what dreams God is dreaming through us, no need to panic-He promises that the work He has began in us, He will be FAITHFUL to complete it. If we are discovering what the dreams He has for us are, let us continue praying to get clarity and not get destructed. God is dreaming through us because He is just that kind of God-and why not dream through us? Are we not made in His image? We are, and all the reason to dream just as big as God dreams-in and through HIM!!!!

Guess Whose Coming to Dinner

Guess who’s Coming to Dinner?

“Have you watched this movie before?” My roommate asked, as she came in with a bunch of movies from school. “What movie?” I responded, sitting on the couch, watching Jeopardy. “Guess who’s coming to Dinner?” “Yes I did, a while back.” “Is it a good movie?” “I liked it because Sydney Poitier is acting in the movie.” I responded. A Communication student, my roommate had brought the movie from the Library to watch as part of her assignment, but did not have the time to watch it right there and then because of other pressing issues.
A few days went by and there was no mention of when the movie would be watched, well, up until my roommate asked me if I had taken the movie because she needed to watch it. The due date for the assignment was fast approaching. I told her that I had not taken the movie, but had “seen” it the day before exactly were she had last placed it-or did I? She “looked” through the pile of the six movies but still could not “see” it. She called friends who had stopped by to see if they had taken the movie by mistake. Each friend said that they had not taken the movie. She turned her room upside down trying to locate the movie, but to no avail.
A few days went by and she still could not find the movie. On the fifth day, she came back from work frustrated because she could not understand how the movie went “missing.” I offered to go through the pile of the three VHS tapes and three DVDs just to make sure. I mean, six things to go though…it cannot be that complicated now, can it? As I began looking through the tapes, I heard my roommate say, “The movie is a VHS.” I had initially picked up the DVDs, but when I heard her specify what kind of format the movie was, I quickly turned my attention to the three VHS tapes stirring at me. “Guess who’s coming to Dinner” was not there.
At that moment I heard my roommate utter another sentence, “Oh my gosh, it is a DVD, not a VHS.” She had just seen the movie when I placed the DVDs on the floor. “What?” I exclaimed. “You are kidding me right?” “No,” she said. At that moment, I looked down again to make sure that she was not pulling my leg, and sure enough, “Guess who’s coming to Dinner” had been there all along, not as a VHS, but as a DVD.
My roommate had spent about five days looking for a movie that was there all along. Wasted energy, wasted emotions, wasted time, frustration, anxiety about the pending assignment and library fees, name it, looking for something that was there all along. Her mind, and up to that point, mine, had been “trained” to look for a VHS and not a DVD...go figure.
How often do we look for a “missing item” when in actuality, it is not missing, but our minds and eyes have been trained to look for something else? The Pharisees and the Jews, anticipating the coming of the Messiah, missed the Messiah because their eyes wanted to see the kind of Messiah that fit their perception.

“And the multitudes were amazed, and began to say, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ But the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’ (Matt. 12: 23-24, NAS)
“The Jews were grumbling about Him…and they were saying, ‘Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (John 6: 41-42, NAS)

Not to be hard on the Pharisees, how about the Prophet Samuel when he was told to anoint one of Jesse’ son to be the next King of Israel in I Samuel 16: 1-13?

“Then it came about when they entered that he looked (Samuel) at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ (Vs. 6-7, NAS)

Could it be that we are looking for that “missing” ministry, when in actuality it is right there in front of us? That “missing” job, when it is right there in front of us. That “missing” time of rest, when in actuality it is right in front of us. That “missing” help, when in actuality, it is right there in front of us. What is it that our minds have been trained to look for when in actuality God wants us to look for and see the ‘DVD’ and not the ‘VHS?’ We could save ourselves five days of looking for something that was already there in the first place. May our prayer be that we have the eyes to see what God needs us to see. May our personal perceptions not hinder us from God’s perceptions.

Needless to say, my roommate and I laughed at what had transpired. I was happy that she found the movie. Right there and then, we decided that it was time to watch it, considering all the drama that we, actually my roommate, went through “trying” to find something that was not missing J -it is, after all Sydney Poitier-a class act. I know who’s coming to Dinner!!!

I should Have Caught The Ball

I Should Have Caught That Ball

I am not one to brag about my “luck” when it comes to winning door prizes or any such rewards. Whenever I attend events that have prizes, I normally disqualify myself before I give myself a chance because the record of accomplishment speaks for itself-almost a zero. Who wants to go through all the pain and disappointment of losing?

Therefore, it was no surprise when, one Wednesday evening at church during a champions rally, I did not fully engage in the action because I KNEW I would not win any prize.
Now do not get me wrong: the desire to win something is always there. I long to be the one to stand and scream and say, “I got the tickets to go watch the Colts play NE.” It has NEVER happened. I stand in awe at people who always win and sometimes I reason with myself and think, “These people are in with the Maker because they are always winning something. As for me, maybe God will look upon me in heaven.”

Back to the Champions Rally: The instructions were clear-two beach balls would be tossed back and forth within the crowd as the music played. Whoever had the ball when the music stopped won a prize. One of the conditions of getting the prize though was to yell as loud as you could in the presence of about 800 people and say, “I am a champion for Life.” When that whole scenario of going before the people played out in my mind, I really disqualified myself and decided just to watch the fun.

Robert, a good friend of mine sat next to me at this rally and as we saw how the ball passed us by more than 7 times, became frustrated. He turned to me and said, “If that ball comes to our section, I will make sure that we will get a prize. I will hook you up with the ball.” My response was a laugh of nervousness: what if the ball did come or direction, will I catch it? “No,” I said to myself, “It will not come this way-please.” However, as surely as the sun rises from the east every day and sets in the west, that ball came in our direction and the whole scenario played out like a script. The music had been playing for a while as the ball was being tossed back and forth. The ball somehow found its way exactly above Robert’s head. He caught it and then passed it on to me. The music stopped while I held the ball and without thinking twice, I threw the ball back in the air, to the chagrin of Robert, and let someone else have the ball.

I cannot begin to tell you how the people around me were shocked at what I did. Disbelief was the foundation of that occasion at that point. Robert did not even want to hear my explanation, which was a cheap shot, “I thought you would hold on to the ball. I did not think you would give it to me.” To which he responded, “I told you I would, what changed?” As we went back and forth, I trying to assign the blame on Robert, I could hear someone shouting, “I am a champion for life.” There goes my prize I thought. Frustrated with myself beyond measure, I pondered and for the life of me, could not figure out why I let that ball get away from me. So close, yet so far.

As I wrestled with my thoughts as my spirit quietend, the heavenly father stepped in. I could hear that small voice as though someone was sitting right next to me telling me:

“That ball was meant for you, but you let fear rob you of it. If you are not careful, you will let things in life that rightfully belong to you slip away. Put aside fear and the fear of perception and grab hold of that which I have for you.”

I tried to prove God wrong and defend myself. Unfortunately, that did not work. I gave up!

How bad did I want that door prize?
How willing was I to work with the conditions that were set in order to win the prize?
My desires spoke one thing. My actions spoke the loudest though.

A look at the Word of God helped me understand the reality of what fear can do:

Matthew 25: 14-29, “…And I was afraid and went away and hid the talent in the ground. See you have what is yours.” God had given the man what was rightfully his, but because the man did not “understand his master heart,” he let fear control his action and miss the very thing that God wanted to use to bless him.

I Samuel 15: 1-34, “…Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, I have indeed transgressed the command of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice…” The Kingdom of Israel was given to Saul. It was his, approved by God, but he let fear and the voices of people deter him from his rightful place and God stripped him of the very thing that was rightfully his.

Proverbs 29: 25, “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who TRUSTS in the Lord will be exalted.” Trusting and fearing God is what makes the difference. Trusting and fearing man is another story.

In as much as I lost out on the door-prize which had not eternal consequences, God used that scenario to awaken a part of my life that has held back pursuing the things of God, or dreams I have because of fear; what will they think about me? How will they judge me? How will I look in front of them?

Have we ever considered how God feels when we disrespect Him by not trusting him? Is He not the God who said:

“Fear not, for I am with you.”

I John 4: 18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

II Timothy 1: 7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.”

Am I suggesting that we live a life without fear? That is unheard of. What I am suggesting is that we live our lives with a healthy fear. We need to Fear God. This kind of fear for God, translates into an “awesome respect” for God. All other kinds of fear are detrimental. When God called each one of us, He knew what kind of baggage we came with, but that did not stop Him from calling us. We can have every excuse of why we fear, but at the end of the day, God will not hold us accountable based on how we felt, but on how He Himself felt because He gave us a manual of how to live in His Word.

I did not catch that ball, but as I wrote in my journal of August 8, 2007, “I learnt a lesson that will propel me-I pray from now on…not to let fear stop me. I would rather fail having tried, than not trying because I was afraid.

Let your Neck Stick Out

“If the creator had a purpose in equipping us with a neck, He surely meant us to stick it out.” Arthur Koestler made this statement in reference to taking risks in life. Right about now, Gloria’s neck is sticking out.
It is 12:52AM on Saturday, June 23, 2007, and I am still awake. Unless I am at a prayer meeting, watching the NBA finals, with the Pistons in it, or watching the World Series with Boston Red Sox in it (shows you how often that happens). I am normally in bed by 10PM. Today, none of those things are happening. Today, Gloria, a close friend of mine is keeping me up because she is driving from Virginia (VA) to Connecticut (CT), with her three children to go see her parents.
You see, Gloria is from Haiti and her parents flew into CT from Haiti earlier this week because Gloria’s mother needs medical attention. Gloria is taking her three children to go see their grandmother who rarely visits the USA, unless for medical reasons, such as in this case. Gloria has never driven this distance before with her three children. She is afraid of driving alone, at night, being stuck in traffic and getting lost. As I write, she just called me to tell me that she missed her turn to get onto the New Jersey Turnpike. Her voice is cracking, “I am lost and I do not know what to do.” All I can say is, “keep driving, you will see a sign.” I have to be calm for her and not be nervous myself. I hear a sigh of relief from her voice because she tells me she sees a gas station. She stops and asks for directions-I can hear the man say, “Keep driving till you see route 3W. Make a left on 3W and it will lead you back to the Turnpike.” Thank you God! We hang up.
Almost an hour later, Gloria calls me to tell me that she is stuck in traffic as she enters New York. She is on the Upper Level of the George Washington Bridge. It is 1:08AM-Traffic at 1:08AM? Then again, it is NY. Her children, ages, 7 years, 3 years, and 8 months are sleeping, well, with the exception of little Jeremiah, the 7 year old, who is trying to keep mummy company. She still has at least another 2 hours left on her trip, depending on traffic. Her cell phone battery only has 2 bars left-no need to begin to say, “I wish I had a cell phone car charger” at this point.
What is my role on this journey-I am giving her the directions on how to get to CT because she is nervous doing it herself while she drives. I am riding with her on this journey to keep her calm, if possible. Through it all however, I am admiring my friend at how courageous she has been the last 8 hours on a journey she was nervous to take from the very beginning. Her neck is sticking out. She loves her mother and she wants her children to spend time with grandma. Even though she is afraid, she is still driving and her destination to CT is getting closer and closer-though it may not seem like it.
She is about to lose her mind, but when she gets to CT, the joy of seeing her parent’s face will be priceless-though right now they may be nervous for her until they see her and the children. She maybe second-guessing her decision about the entire trip, however, she took the first step earlier to get on this journey and drive-her neck is sticking out. What I see in Gloria is courage, strength, tenacity, desire, compassion, and passion covered up in fear. Regardless of these emotions, what is keeping her going is the will to see her mother and giving her children an opportunity to spend time with their grandmother. She has risked it all to see Mum.
As I ponder on these events, I begin to ask myself, what am I willing to stick my neck out for in reference to life and what God has called me to do? Am I afraid, nervous, but still on the journey? About to lose my mind, but still on the journey? Getting lost a few times, but still get back on the journey for the people I love? What am I willing to risk?
Let us consider a mother who was willing to stick her neck out for her daughter:

Just then, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all…." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table. ”Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:22-28 NRS)

She stuck out her neck, ignoring her status for the sake of her daughter. She turned to Jesus, but was turned down by the very man she needed help from? How bad did she want this for her daughter? She stayed on the journey until Jesus commended her actions at the end by healing her daughter.

What about Jesus? How did He stick out His neck? Hebrews 12: 1-3 gives us an idea:

“…Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God…”(NRS)

Jesus saw a redeemed people, but He had to be willing to go to the Cross, to be shamed and rejected in order to reconcile man back to God-Thank God He did.

Gloria could have given up on this journey, but she was willing to let her neck stick out. Talking about Gloria, she just called me. It is 2:21AM and she is about 61 miles further to seeing her parents. She is down to one bar on her cell phone. She cannot talk long…but she is excited. She just said to me, “I got it…I can do this.” As she hangs up, I say to myself, “You got it before you even started the journey-You stuck your neck out”

I am about to close my eyes for a few minutes until the next phone call. It is 3:36AM. Gloria just called. She made it to CT safely. I can hear her family in the background excited. We hang up. I am finally at peace. I can go to bed hoping to stick my neck out tomorrow for what God is calling me to do-Gloria just gave me extra motivation.

The Little Dirty Radio

The Dirty Little Radio

It is often said that, “one man’s meat is another man’s poison.” Could it be also said that, “one man’s little dirty radio could be one boy’s newfound treasure?”
I found that out to be true. Jeremiah, the first-born son to one of my closest friends, is a delight. Every now and again when I have a chance, I go pick him up from school to give his mother a much needed break. On one of the trips where I had to pick him up, we came across one of my friends who was moving. This friend asked little Jeremiah if he wanted a radio because he had an extra one to give away. With little hesitation Jeremiah agreed. I was tasked to go get the radio from our friend’s garage for Jeremiah.
While driving to this friend’s house, I envisioned a small, shinny, clean, state-of-the-art radio for my little excited Jeremiah. I could picture him listening to his radio in the comfort of his room. As we got closer to the house, our excitement grew for our newfound treasure.
When we arrived, I went into the garage and looked for the radio. I searched around, but could not see it, or so I thought. Then I saw a small, black, scratched, dirty radio in the left corner of the garage. I showed Jeremiah the radio, but he was too excited to notice the condition of the radio.
Our fifteen-minute ride home was filed with excitement from Jeremiah because of his newfound treasure.
When we arrived at their home, Jeremiah showed his mother his “new” radio. His mother, like I, saw that the radio was old and dirty, and the time one would spend cleaning it would translate into the same amount of time it would take to buy a new one from Wal-Mart. The radio would have to be thrown away.
I was supportive of the decision. Jeremiah was heart broken. But after much convincing, he gave in because the idea of getting a new one seemed great. "Good for him," I thought, as I said my goodbyes and went my merry way.
Two days later, I went to baby sit Jeremiah’s little sisters and lo and behold, the old, dirty radio was still there. I wondered why they had not thrown it away. I figured that on my way out I would do them the favor and put it in the garbage.
I had an hour to spare, and for some reason, while the little ones slept, I picked up that old, dirty radio and placed it in the sink.
I thought to myself, “Let me clean this radio.”
As I began cleaning, I sensed the Lord ministering to me -- shockingly enough, using the dirty radio. The word "potential" came to mind. The radio still had the "potential" to function like a brand new radio, even though it was dirty.
"Potential, HUH?" I thought to myself.
How often do we disregard “someone” because they are “dirty” and they do not seem to have potential? How quick are we to cast them away because we are so accustomed to the “clean and shiny?" The potential for the radio to play was intact. All one had to do was to spend some time and wipe it down for it to do the thing it was required to do.
Granted, if the radio was not cleaned, it would ruin all the tapes and CDs that came into its path. It had to be cleaned in order to operate at its highest level.
Jesus took the time to identify and clean up people because He saw their potential. Such an example is seen with the woman at the well in John 4: 1-44.
Having lived a life that was marred with loneliness, heartache, and judgment, Jesus took the time to minister to this woman -- this was His ministry and His passion. "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” Because He took the time to want to see her clean, her testimony changed an entire city when she became clean.
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’ (vs. 39-41, NRSV)
As I took my time to clean the radio, I saw how God takes the time to clean us up when we are dirty. He never gives up on us. He is forever getting out His sponge and cleaning every particle of dirt because He loves us and knows that when clean, we can operate to our maximum potential.
When cleaned, we can affect a generation, change a life, bring about transformation in a community, and do the impossible. However, it is the dirt that stays in us that prevents us from operating at our fullest potential. Galatians 5:19-21 identifies some of the dirt that can hold one back from operating in their fullest potential.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21, NRSV)
May we allow the Lord to clean us up each day and may we never give up on people when they are “dirty” because they have the same potential like a brand new radio. All they need is someone to believe in them -- because we know that God does.
Suffice it to say, when Jeremiah came back that day and saw his cleaned up radio, he was very excited; he went to his room and took out his favorite CD and played his music as he danced along to its tune!!! WOW!