Have you ever looked outside your window and thought… “ You know, the leaves on the trees just don’t match, something doesn’t look right?” I can be almost certain that that has never happened and go on a limb and say that will never happen.
The Lord talks all the time about his name being glorified and His presence known by the splendor of Nature. There is a message in Nature that the Lord Himself stands for- Oneness, Unity… Harmony.
I could never, ever again see myself going to a church that is full people that look like me. Not saying I don’t love black people, because I love people. I do not, however, believe I can live life to its full potential only knowing, meeting and communing with people that look like me, or who agree with everything that I have to say or do things the same way that I do them.
God created all of the differences in people for a reason. He said himself that we all make up the body of Christ- there is a head and a foot, we can’t just have heads or just foots.
I went through a time of very hard personal struggle. I thought that I was a racist. I am very attracted to white a guy… that is just the way it has always been for me. For awhile I started to think that the reason I don’t like black guys is because deep down inside (and it wouldn’t have been that deep) I was racist against black guys. This upset me, a lot. I know what it’s like to be shunned because of my race, gender, age. I was upset that I was contributing to that kind of blatant hate.
As I was praying and thinking about this, the Lord opened my heart to a new way of thinking. Maybe He created me in a way that I am naturally attracted to people of different races. That is not a bad thing, it’s a quality that the Lord has given me and hopefully, for my future children’s sake, there is a guy out there who God created the same way.. lol
But as we were talking about the Unity and Harmony of Christ and the way He created things and us. There is something that is so Divine about a biracial couple. Two people usually different backgrounds, different families and different experiences coming together in the Sanctification of Marriage. There is nothing more beautiful to me then holding that hand of someone whose hand looks a little different.
This is Harmony in it’s simplest form.
If you have not experienced this, please just go hold that hand of some with different pigmentation than yours- it enters you into a different world.
Harmony is only possible with the true presence of the Holy Spirit. Something our fallen world, with it's fallen people, cannot create on its own.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Church Mingling
Yesterday I decided to visit a church that I promised to visit about two years ago.. I figure it’s never too late to follow through on a promise.
The First Congregational Church. This is a church like I have never seen before. When I first walked in the door a man by the name of Mark welcomed me and asked me if I wanted a name tag! (Simple, but that makes things much easier and it helps you remember people’s name- I did walk around with a name tag on all day because I forgot, but whatever!)
The church was had an ocean like back drop and ocean like sheets on the floor in a path between the two podiums. In the middle of the path was this wonderfully crafted wooden table that said… “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.”, the Scripture from Colossians 3. As I was looking for a seat in this uniquely arranged room of chairs, when a black lady that is dressed in an robe that matches the path on the floor and the back drop of the church walks up to me and says, “ Is this your first time with us?” Of course it was and it obviously looked like it!
She introduced herself as the Pastor of church and introduced me to some people and they asked me to sit with them. It was a very, very strange meeting, well to me. I was scared to walk in at first because there were A LOT of old white people and they had “Sunday Dress” on. I had on blue jeans and long sleeved shrist, but when I got inside I noticed that the congregation was very mixed racially and in dress, including many gay couples.
I was sure once the lady got up I was going to be in something like a colt…
They had a scripture reading and the other Pastor, who was also a women, but white, got up and gave a message about giving; it was smooth and it was true.
The thing that I love most about this church was the spirit was so Zin, which I’m not sure that is the word I should use to describe a church. However, there was a huge since of community. They did a lot of things for Memphis and a lot of stuff for the people of the church. People can be so worried about the City their church is in that they forget to feed and care for the people of the church. You have to have balance to do either one effectively.
I am not sure how I feel about women Pastors. This is something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. I do not know where I stand on it. Do I think women will to Hell for teaching The Word of God…NO. There are a lot of things that we incorrectly that we will not go to Hell for, only by the grace of God. I also do not know where their stance is on Homosexuality. I do not think that is right, but I do not think we should shun Homosexuality either. We are suppose to be loving and accepting- not of the sin but of the person. Loving and caring for them as we would anyone else.
We need to be at a place where we understand people who are different from us, that way we can pray for them in the most effective way and then let the Lord take care of the rest. He did not ask us to judge, he did not ask us to condemn, but to only show His love- He will take care of the rest. I believe I will visit this church again, I believe there is a lot that could be learned through creating relationships with this congregation.
The First Congregational Church. This is a church like I have never seen before. When I first walked in the door a man by the name of Mark welcomed me and asked me if I wanted a name tag! (Simple, but that makes things much easier and it helps you remember people’s name- I did walk around with a name tag on all day because I forgot, but whatever!)
The church was had an ocean like back drop and ocean like sheets on the floor in a path between the two podiums. In the middle of the path was this wonderfully crafted wooden table that said… “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.”, the Scripture from Colossians 3. As I was looking for a seat in this uniquely arranged room of chairs, when a black lady that is dressed in an robe that matches the path on the floor and the back drop of the church walks up to me and says, “ Is this your first time with us?” Of course it was and it obviously looked like it!
She introduced herself as the Pastor of church and introduced me to some people and they asked me to sit with them. It was a very, very strange meeting, well to me. I was scared to walk in at first because there were A LOT of old white people and they had “Sunday Dress” on. I had on blue jeans and long sleeved shrist, but when I got inside I noticed that the congregation was very mixed racially and in dress, including many gay couples.
I was sure once the lady got up I was going to be in something like a colt…
They had a scripture reading and the other Pastor, who was also a women, but white, got up and gave a message about giving; it was smooth and it was true.
The thing that I love most about this church was the spirit was so Zin, which I’m not sure that is the word I should use to describe a church. However, there was a huge since of community. They did a lot of things for Memphis and a lot of stuff for the people of the church. People can be so worried about the City their church is in that they forget to feed and care for the people of the church. You have to have balance to do either one effectively.
I am not sure how I feel about women Pastors. This is something that I have been struggling with for a very, very long time. I do not know where I stand on it. Do I think women will to Hell for teaching The Word of God…NO. There are a lot of things that we incorrectly that we will not go to Hell for, only by the grace of God. I also do not know where their stance is on Homosexuality. I do not think that is right, but I do not think we should shun Homosexuality either. We are suppose to be loving and accepting- not of the sin but of the person. Loving and caring for them as we would anyone else.
We need to be at a place where we understand people who are different from us, that way we can pray for them in the most effective way and then let the Lord take care of the rest. He did not ask us to judge, he did not ask us to condemn, but to only show His love- He will take care of the rest. I believe I will visit this church again, I believe there is a lot that could be learned through creating relationships with this congregation.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Would you pay for a Prostitute
If you don’t know, I am a person passionate about injustice. I believe that I and people like me can change the world- following the will of the Lord, “The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.” Prb 29…and it is God’s will that we become the righteousness of Christ, that is why He died for us.
That was a little rant… that someone needed to hear!! Lol
One injustice that after I heard about was ingrained in my thoughts was Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking it the selling and moving of people for profit or gain, it is modern day slavery. One major from of trafficking is Prostitution. Yes, it happens everywhere, down the street from you, down the street from me and through every countries airport.
I am working with an organization called Operation Broken Silence, which to me is one (if not) the best nonprof ever. Ha, but I am a little bias. We have three focus areas: Modern day slavery, Genocide and the Water Crisis. S.A.F.E , Slavery Abolition Freedom Endeavor , is conducting an research, collecting data to get an idea of the of the amount of prostitution…or “escorting ” services here in Memphis and the amount of people traveling to Memphis for the purpose of prostitution.
This study will create a number for Memphians that will show that this is something that is happening right here, right now. To do this study the information is documented from a website. Date of the posting, phone number, advertised name and age and an ID number given to the poster…like an ID number of an item on Ebay. Each person involved in the study is give a day to collect post and document them on a doc sheet to keep the information together.
My day there is a lady name Brooke, whether that is her real name is debatable, but that’s all I got. Brooke is a heavy set women and very beautiful. I remember the first time I went to gather her information- I was sadden by her beauty and her line of business. I think about the say that bigger women can sometime be treated and how that could have them feel and I wonder, “ Is that the reason she is in this business?” It is quite possible that the reason she is doing what she is doing is because she wasn’t told she was beautiful or good enough for something better by the people around her.
As the weeks went on she continued to post and I would continue to think about her all the time. I would pray for her while I was driving, while I was lying in bed- thinking of the horrible things she might be going through right then- in my neighborhood, Wolfchase/ Germantown.
Then one day I get on to collect information and she wasn’t there. I tried not to think about it but the next week the same thing. I have just about driven myself insane thinking about the things that could have happened to her. Maybe she was beaten to death, or she as killed by one of her costumers. Or maybe she wasn’t an independent worker and her pimp has done something to her. Maybe she ended up in Jail. Maybe she got out of that horrible situation.
Every day I pray for her and sometimes I wish that I had 200 dollars and was able to act upon the urge, that I had more than once, for an hour to tell her she is beautiful and that I love her. That there is hope and even though it doesn’t look like it- God is always there, always watching and always working.
Remember, in this business there things are not as they seem. Remember to pray for the things that go on in our city and in our world that are wrong- Remember the people who need your prayers.
That was a little rant… that someone needed to hear!! Lol
One injustice that after I heard about was ingrained in my thoughts was Human Trafficking. Human Trafficking it the selling and moving of people for profit or gain, it is modern day slavery. One major from of trafficking is Prostitution. Yes, it happens everywhere, down the street from you, down the street from me and through every countries airport.
I am working with an organization called Operation Broken Silence, which to me is one (if not) the best nonprof ever. Ha, but I am a little bias. We have three focus areas: Modern day slavery, Genocide and the Water Crisis. S.A.F.E , Slavery Abolition Freedom Endeavor , is conducting an research, collecting data to get an idea of the of the amount of prostitution…or “escorting ” services here in Memphis and the amount of people traveling to Memphis for the purpose of prostitution.
This study will create a number for Memphians that will show that this is something that is happening right here, right now. To do this study the information is documented from a website. Date of the posting, phone number, advertised name and age and an ID number given to the poster…like an ID number of an item on Ebay. Each person involved in the study is give a day to collect post and document them on a doc sheet to keep the information together.
My day there is a lady name Brooke, whether that is her real name is debatable, but that’s all I got. Brooke is a heavy set women and very beautiful. I remember the first time I went to gather her information- I was sadden by her beauty and her line of business. I think about the say that bigger women can sometime be treated and how that could have them feel and I wonder, “ Is that the reason she is in this business?” It is quite possible that the reason she is doing what she is doing is because she wasn’t told she was beautiful or good enough for something better by the people around her.
As the weeks went on she continued to post and I would continue to think about her all the time. I would pray for her while I was driving, while I was lying in bed- thinking of the horrible things she might be going through right then- in my neighborhood, Wolfchase/ Germantown.
Then one day I get on to collect information and she wasn’t there. I tried not to think about it but the next week the same thing. I have just about driven myself insane thinking about the things that could have happened to her. Maybe she was beaten to death, or she as killed by one of her costumers. Or maybe she wasn’t an independent worker and her pimp has done something to her. Maybe she ended up in Jail. Maybe she got out of that horrible situation.
Every day I pray for her and sometimes I wish that I had 200 dollars and was able to act upon the urge, that I had more than once, for an hour to tell her she is beautiful and that I love her. That there is hope and even though it doesn’t look like it- God is always there, always watching and always working.
Remember, in this business there things are not as they seem. Remember to pray for the things that go on in our city and in our world that are wrong- Remember the people who need your prayers.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Death Face to Face
I was driving in the car today and I almost missed my exit… well I thought I almost missed my exit. So I made a quick exit and did I mention it was raining? Well it was and it was obviously too quick of an exit because for the first time in my life I lost control of my car.
When it was happening I was very glad that I paid attention during that drivers education classes in the 9th grade and turned with the car not against it… or were you suppose to turn against? I don’t really know, but I turned with and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the exit facing the wrong way.
This is not what I would call a slow traffic area, even though it was late, it was on the way to the airport. No cars. None, no cars were coming at me. I, of course, turn the car and went on my way.
The reason why this was strange to me is because even though this was the first time this had ever happened to me and I wasn’t scared. When I had turned the car around I said, “Thank you Jesus.”, in a calmly manner and kept going. Then as I continued on my journey I realized I really almost died, and I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t even shaking, yes I stopped and looked at my hands to check- even I was confused.
Why? Then I realized that I know where I would be going if I were to pass away. If it was really my time to go, which it wasn’t right then. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”
Now trust me, I know I have a lot to learn in this life time- which again is why I am still here, only by the grace of God. However, I know who my Father is and I know for which side I am fighting.
The Lord has work for me to be doing here and I am so blessed to have found my calling and my purpose here on earth. If you were looking death in the face, could you look back without fear?
When it was happening I was very glad that I paid attention during that drivers education classes in the 9th grade and turned with the car not against it… or were you suppose to turn against? I don’t really know, but I turned with and the car came to a complete stop in the middle of the exit facing the wrong way.
This is not what I would call a slow traffic area, even though it was late, it was on the way to the airport. No cars. None, no cars were coming at me. I, of course, turn the car and went on my way.
The reason why this was strange to me is because even though this was the first time this had ever happened to me and I wasn’t scared. When I had turned the car around I said, “Thank you Jesus.”, in a calmly manner and kept going. Then as I continued on my journey I realized I really almost died, and I wasn’t scared. I wasn’t even shaking, yes I stopped and looked at my hands to check- even I was confused.
Why? Then I realized that I know where I would be going if I were to pass away. If it was really my time to go, which it wasn’t right then. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”
Now trust me, I know I have a lot to learn in this life time- which again is why I am still here, only by the grace of God. However, I know who my Father is and I know for which side I am fighting.
The Lord has work for me to be doing here and I am so blessed to have found my calling and my purpose here on earth. If you were looking death in the face, could you look back without fear?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Expectation
When we grow up as children we are told that we can do anything. We have dreams and hopes and expectations. Before school we have an imagination that could save that world in one night. As we get older and we go to school a whole new set of expectations are put on us. We are averaged and scaled according to our “ability”.
Over time the world view of teachers and bosses… friends are infringed on us and we become callused and sucked into this idea of “what things are suppose to be”. Sometimes…most of the time people become lost in this world where all you focus on is what we have, what fun we can have with it and we lost ourselves in the flow of things.
Have you ever taken time to just sit back and think about who you are really are? What you really care about? What you believed before the world told you it was impossible?
Instead in most cases we keep searching for things that will get rid of that void that we feeling of insignificance, and many times people get stuck in that search: addictions, bad relationships… life ending situations.
When all we are doing is losing ourselves again… just in a different way…
Look out from your life and you will see that the thing that you are looking for, the feeling that you are chasing is much, much bigger than you. It’s the things around us, it’s the people God puts in our lives, it’s the chance to save the world- the feeling that after a long life of cynicism and dark worldviews has been killed and dismissed.
Don’t believe me? Think about the people who have lived a life of happiness, of joy; the people who are not chasing. What is different about them and you? They are seeking ways to change something that has been wronged or maybe just notice the girl they met that has low self esteem or helped someone find purpose- in turn finding their purpose.
What exactly do you have to lose if you have already lost yourself?
Over time the world view of teachers and bosses… friends are infringed on us and we become callused and sucked into this idea of “what things are suppose to be”. Sometimes…most of the time people become lost in this world where all you focus on is what we have, what fun we can have with it and we lost ourselves in the flow of things.
Have you ever taken time to just sit back and think about who you are really are? What you really care about? What you believed before the world told you it was impossible?
Instead in most cases we keep searching for things that will get rid of that void that we feeling of insignificance, and many times people get stuck in that search: addictions, bad relationships… life ending situations.
When all we are doing is losing ourselves again… just in a different way…
Look out from your life and you will see that the thing that you are looking for, the feeling that you are chasing is much, much bigger than you. It’s the things around us, it’s the people God puts in our lives, it’s the chance to save the world- the feeling that after a long life of cynicism and dark worldviews has been killed and dismissed.
Don’t believe me? Think about the people who have lived a life of happiness, of joy; the people who are not chasing. What is different about them and you? They are seeking ways to change something that has been wronged or maybe just notice the girl they met that has low self esteem or helped someone find purpose- in turn finding their purpose.
What exactly do you have to lose if you have already lost yourself?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Be like the moon, reflect the Son
Lately I have been really busy- as you can probably tell, I up dated more when I was at camp than I have since I have been home. I started working with this apartment complex. I give 60-80 hours of volunteer time a month and they will pay for me to live at the complex. This is one of the biggest complexes in Memphis. The people...are okay and the attendants, people who live there, are busy- like the rest of the world. To me, October has been the busiest month ever- I will dread this time next year.
There have been a lot of things that happened this month that have been great and others that have not been so great... The good things have been BIG and the bad things have been fairly small- but there have been a good number of the small... haha
The complex is volunteer, but it is also a ministry started by my sister church. The purpose from the church prospective is outreach, which is right up my ally. I believe in out reach and I believed in this Ministry. I had prayed about it and I believed this was where the Lord wanted me.
Now that I am here I am starting to question motives and seriousness of this "ministry". I have since learned that the Apartment complex uses the service of the church member just to have events and to make themselves look good. Not surprising, that is the way that business works and it’s not like we, as a church, are not benefiting as well.
Then we get to the church. The church has decided that this form of outreach is not “good enough” and they would like to have other forms of outreach. If you know me, you know that I do not think there could be enough outreach in the world. And I think that a church should have more than one form of outreach, including something to do with the Global community. I am not, however, a person that is okay with just dropping a ministry for “something better”. I like to finish things through, I like to make sure that when I am done with something, anything, it is better than before and the Lord is happy with the way that it was handled and completed. Many times I believe that people forget that God has an order to the way He wants things done for Him. Being a Christian is a full time job, with struggles and benefits; so often people only want the benefits.
I read a quote…somewhere... that stated everything we go through in life is transforming us into the likeness of Christ- something we got through for his name sake. So if you walk away from something that you know the Lord wants you to do, or something He did not give you permission to walk away from, you are really walking away from the opportunity to be transformed into His likeness. “God , I like You, but you’re not worth all that…”
“One of the reasons we are not as Christ- centered and cross saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything- everything good and everything that turns out for good of His redeemed children- was purchased with by the death of Christ for her.”
John Piper Don’t Waste your Life
So yes, I know what you’re thinking, or at least if I were you what I would be thinking. That quote applies to you too, yea it’s hard- but why are you complaining. I needed to vent and trust me, I know that the things that I am involved in right now are hard because I am actively doing God’s work and being transformed to the likeness if the Son. Which I was warned is like Iron sharpening Iron and Glass going through the shaping fire.
Don’t forget to check the Mirror sometimes- Are you reflecting Greatness?
There have been a lot of things that happened this month that have been great and others that have not been so great... The good things have been BIG and the bad things have been fairly small- but there have been a good number of the small... haha
The complex is volunteer, but it is also a ministry started by my sister church. The purpose from the church prospective is outreach, which is right up my ally. I believe in out reach and I believed in this Ministry. I had prayed about it and I believed this was where the Lord wanted me.
Now that I am here I am starting to question motives and seriousness of this "ministry". I have since learned that the Apartment complex uses the service of the church member just to have events and to make themselves look good. Not surprising, that is the way that business works and it’s not like we, as a church, are not benefiting as well.
Then we get to the church. The church has decided that this form of outreach is not “good enough” and they would like to have other forms of outreach. If you know me, you know that I do not think there could be enough outreach in the world. And I think that a church should have more than one form of outreach, including something to do with the Global community. I am not, however, a person that is okay with just dropping a ministry for “something better”. I like to finish things through, I like to make sure that when I am done with something, anything, it is better than before and the Lord is happy with the way that it was handled and completed. Many times I believe that people forget that God has an order to the way He wants things done for Him. Being a Christian is a full time job, with struggles and benefits; so often people only want the benefits.
I read a quote…somewhere... that stated everything we go through in life is transforming us into the likeness of Christ- something we got through for his name sake. So if you walk away from something that you know the Lord wants you to do, or something He did not give you permission to walk away from, you are really walking away from the opportunity to be transformed into His likeness. “God , I like You, but you’re not worth all that…”
“One of the reasons we are not as Christ- centered and cross saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything- everything good and everything that turns out for good of His redeemed children- was purchased with by the death of Christ for her.”
John Piper Don’t Waste your Life
So yes, I know what you’re thinking, or at least if I were you what I would be thinking. That quote applies to you too, yea it’s hard- but why are you complaining. I needed to vent and trust me, I know that the things that I am involved in right now are hard because I am actively doing God’s work and being transformed to the likeness if the Son. Which I was warned is like Iron sharpening Iron and Glass going through the shaping fire.
Don’t forget to check the Mirror sometimes- Are you reflecting Greatness?
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Enslaved
I am reading this new book called Enslaved. As you probably guessed, it is about slavery. Not in the forms that brought my kind over on a boat, but the kind that is taking place everyday, all around us,, that the average person doesn't even know about.
The book gives first hand stories of people that have been forced into Modern Day Slavery... servants, prostitution.. whatever. One story is called Slave in America. It's about this girl that ran away from home because she was under going much sexual and physical abuse at home and thought there would be anything better than the situation she was in... She soon found out that was not the case. She lived on the street for a long time, being shunned for being a homeless teen...yea, I didn't know people did that. I have never met a homeless teen and I surely wouldn't move to the other side of the street when I saw one coming- seriously?
After being homeless for awhile she bumped into this man that stopped and talked to her. Listened to her every problem and lured her into trusting her. Well, she soon found out that the man she trusted was a very bad person..did things to her that I cannot even imagine happening to someone. Much, much later her "owner" was arrested under unrelated charges in AZ, at which she was found bound in a closet. The police told her to shut up or she would be arrested too when she asked for a female cop..she wasn't even 18 yet. (And people wonder why the public hate cops...)
I am actively working to have these things stopped, but I still get overwhelmed sometimes that some helpless person is suffering because of the ignorance of the people around them.
I am ready for a change. One thing that helps me is Galatians 6:9 "And never grow weary of doing good, in due season you will reap, if you do not give up." Slavery will be ended I just have to keep following the passion the Lord has put in me and remember the victims that I am fighting for.
The book gives first hand stories of people that have been forced into Modern Day Slavery... servants, prostitution.. whatever. One story is called Slave in America. It's about this girl that ran away from home because she was under going much sexual and physical abuse at home and thought there would be anything better than the situation she was in... She soon found out that was not the case. She lived on the street for a long time, being shunned for being a homeless teen...yea, I didn't know people did that. I have never met a homeless teen and I surely wouldn't move to the other side of the street when I saw one coming- seriously?
After being homeless for awhile she bumped into this man that stopped and talked to her. Listened to her every problem and lured her into trusting her. Well, she soon found out that the man she trusted was a very bad person..did things to her that I cannot even imagine happening to someone. Much, much later her "owner" was arrested under unrelated charges in AZ, at which she was found bound in a closet. The police told her to shut up or she would be arrested too when she asked for a female cop..she wasn't even 18 yet. (And people wonder why the public hate cops...)
I am actively working to have these things stopped, but I still get overwhelmed sometimes that some helpless person is suffering because of the ignorance of the people around them.
I am ready for a change. One thing that helps me is Galatians 6:9 "And never grow weary of doing good, in due season you will reap, if you do not give up." Slavery will be ended I just have to keep following the passion the Lord has put in me and remember the victims that I am fighting for.
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