MInD On mY BUsINeSS AnD My BuSInESs oN My MiNd

I know the frenzy and the mayhem that comes from the imaginary world (sort of) of fantasy football. We find ourselves on the brink of a huge week 8 win and we have a key running back that is going into his matchup "questionable". We find ourselves desensitized with the need for tangible stats to propel us to a win and we forget the real life injury the player has. We almost literally try to will him onto the football field to win "for us". To play hard and gut it out "for us". He could have a broken fibula and we want him to suck it up and get out there because we think we can't afford to lose a game that we don't actually play in. We are not simply losing a game if that player is downgraded to "doubtful" or "out". We are actually losing perspective on what is going on around us in the real world. We are losing a small piece of us that makes us human and connects and unifies us.

So if that is what happens in our small little fantasy sphere, what do you think is taking place in boardrooms and conference rooms in large companies like, let's say, The National Football League?
How much do they see that takes place in the real world and it falls low on the critical meter in favor of the bottom line? How do we retain the force of a star running back that makes our team go despite the fact that he punched the mother of his children in the face? Or the uber-physical D-lineman who is even more physical at home? Multi million and billion dollar companies alike find it easy to ignore what many of us find morally reprehensible. How is that possible? It starts with a little piece at a time.

Hearing the screams of the neighbor downstairs and the sounds of glass shattering...she turns her TV up louder to drown it out. Deep red mark around the eye. Bruises on his upper back. Pre hug flinching. So many signs. Turning the channels because you're tired of hearing about police involved shootings and hate crimes on every newscast. Before you know it, it doesn't exist to you anymore. It's not happening to you so it's not happening. Our hearts grow colder and colder and the light inside of us grows dimmer and dimmer.

I didn't name examples because I didn't need to. This post couldn't be big enough to name them all. if you care, they're right there for you to find. It's easy for many of us to rail against big business and how dare they overlook such an egregious error in judgment. We pound our chests and we carry signs, yelling for change. Know what else we do? We do the same things they do but perhaps on a smaller scale if you can measure morality in anything other than dollars and cents. What have you seen that you have ignored? What did you do that you bury because it's too hard to look at or think about? Clearly, we hold sports figures to a higher standard but we let our children say and do heinous things and explain it away. "Boys will be boys" and other classless cliches like those come to mind.

Before we go deep off the moral edge and vilify companies (that we also, by the way, CONTINUE to support financially without fail) or others that act less than human, before you rail on that social networking site and respond to that news article and give them a piece of your mind, stop! Run to the mirror and think about what you will say, the implant it will leave, and if you can say this without a tinge of hypocrisy in your own reflection. More of us should do this. Wouldn't you say?

ThE FiShBOwL

If my entire closet consisted mainly of the color BLUE, I would probably need to re-consider my fashion choices and add some other colors. Yes, blue looks awesome on me and it is my favorite color but an entire wardrobe in the exact same color would be concerning. My friends and family are not likely to chalk it up to just my love for this color but they'll likely think I'm insane and start making phone calls on my behalf to various institutions. And I wouldn't blame them. Just the color blue alone has several different shades, tones, and hues. Notice how you admire the color of the ocean or the color of sky on a beautiful summer afternoon but are hard pressed to find it in your local retail store when shopping for clothes. The differences seem endless when you're looking for them. You might find a cambridge blue, sapphire, or even a soft and subtle viridian. The options are truly limitless. Crayola never even scratched the surface. If you like RED or GREEN or PURPLE, you will notice that this same example applies. In every color you will see the same, even black and white.

Do you remember the wonder and the gasps when for years of watching black and white television, you were introduced to the world of what was called technicolor? It was absolutely amazing. You knew that color exists because you saw it all around you but you were blown away to see it on your television set. Guess you had to be there.

Have you ever seen a bird or a different species of fish when they are in proximity of each other? There is a feeling out process but it rarely, if ever, erupts into a no holds barred match or worse, death of one of the combatants in Fishbowl of Death IV. Some species are more malignant than others but it's an exception more than it is a rule. When I'm sitting at my doctor's office or over at a specific friend's house, I am always drawn to the fishbowl. It is so entertaining (perhaps only to me) to see all the various types of fish with different colors, markings, and approaches to their social setting. Some are bold and engaging when you tap on the glass with the tip of your finger. Some duck and hide behind the rocks and are less social. But they are all so wondrous and beautiful in their own way and some how they have made a life for themselves in that bowl where they have learned to co-exist peacefully. So why are we finding it so challenging in 2017 to be able to "feel each other out" and note the uniqueness and the cultural accents that not only make us great and interesting but also what make the country we live in great as well. With all of our flaws and deficiencies, we are still a great nation in comparison to others and I believe that our ability to embrace what makes us similar and what makes us vary gives strength to that opinion. 

In certain countries, people of European descent are considered "devils" and are under attack and there is no basis for this except for the color of their skin and negative historical actions by those who share the same skin tone. In some countries, people of African or Indian descent are defiled, abused, and called some of the worst slurs in history. Some nationalities have an unfair reputation for being liars and thieves. Some are unfairly branded terrorists. Some are widely held as being the sole reason for the degradation of society in media and cinema. There are still people in this country that are so closed off and sheltered that they only see...PINK. Anything else is foreign to them and even to some degree, considered a threat to their "PINK-ness". Don't be surprised if a small child who doesn't look like you asks to touch your hair. Just sayin'.

So everything is not always as simple as black and white or brown when it comes to issues of race. It gets deeper and requires healthy dialogue and an ability to listen to others who don't speak like we do or think like we do or understand the things that we do. It was hard for me and I fought very hard against the opinion that I should try other colors in my wardrobe besides just blue. Oh, yeah! That's actually a true story. I had to be open to reject fear and embrace the idea of wearing red, green, purple, gray, or even yellow. Now I even wear pink shirts. Go figure! It wasn't easy but I am better for it. Several of my friends think many of these colors looks great on me. Look what I missed out on all this time! 

We're in the same fishbowl more often than not and we are given the tools to not only overcome the initial differences without killing each other but also to look inward and find the resolve to not only survive but thrive and build and produce and prosper. We're in this "life" thing together and we can help decimate and bring this down to Draconian levels of depravity and destruction or we can tap into the humanity inherently within us and make this fishbowl a better place while we're here. Hope you didn't totally hate the analogies. I meant well.  

ReLAtIOnSHiP OvEr ReLIgIOn

RELIGION VS. RELATIONSHIP. THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!

Religion says: I will go to church on Sunday morning.

Relationship says: I need to go to church on Sunday morning. I'm very hungry. I need all the Word and fellowship I can get.

Religion says: I don't have extra time to volunteer for stuff at church.

Relationship says: Lord, please release me from the obligations I have added to my life so I can serve you more.

Religion says: Geesh! Another fellowship?

Relationship says: If I have fellowship with the Lord, I fellowship with others. I want both.

Religion says: I can't pay tithes. God understands I have bills.

Relationship says: The Word tells me to worship no other god but the Lord thy God. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Religion says: Don't judge me. Only God can judge me.

Relationship says: We are allowed to judge a tree by the fruit that it bears. We try the spirit by the Spirit to see if it is of God.

Religion says: I do too much as it is. I need a break.

Relationship says: Christ has done so much for me. I can't possibly repay Him but I am willing to try.

Religion says: I am tired of the church and its hypocrisy.

Relationship says: I am the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against me.

Religion says: These people can't tell me anything. We've all fallen short of the glory of God.. At least I'm not like (blank)...

Relationship says: Search my heart, O Lord, and see if there is any hurtful way in me.

Religion says: God knows my heart.

Relationship says: Yes, He knows how wicked it is. That's why I need Him more now than ever! I repent.

dEAD mAN WaLKiNg

Good Morning, friends.

I call you friend not because we agree on everything but because of what I hope will someday be. Essentially, I am speaking to you in the present with a mindset geared towards the future. A mother whose family lives in poverty speaks to her only son and says "You will be a great doctor someday and you will save many lives."

Her context is a land devoid of clean water and the landscape of many sick children who don't live to be ten years old. She is surrounded by sickness, disease, and death. But still she hopes and most importantly, she speaks.

Those of us who have lived comparatively better lives may not understand and perhaps, you don't even care about these "third world issues". These things happen in the "first worlds" too such as the United States of America. I'm all too happy to bust that particular bubble.

I know without a doubt that we, generally speaking, are more concerned with the present circumstances and don't consider the future consequence. It is indelibly a part of the human condition.
We don't seek wisdom unless it is accessible and causes us no discomfort to locate it. We are more than happy to "figure things out" ourselves and not seek aid from a more reputable and reliable source. The wise man's wisdom is evident in that he looks ahead and plans and recognizes that the future must be addressed. The fool leaves their own impression by being content with the immediate present and what's going on right then. No one wants to be the fool and everyone wants to be considered wise but inevitably someone will take the roles of each. Which one are you?

Proverbs 19:20-21 says "Hear counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in the latter end. There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand."

There is even a reminder in Jeremiah 17:9 that says "The heart is deceitful wicked above all things, and desperately wicked." So do you really think you understand it enough to trust it.

I snicker when someone says "What the heart wants, the heart wants." Hilarious! Translation: I'm going to do what I want. Take whomever's husband I want. Take whomever's girlfriend I want. Come to work whenever I feel like. Change my mind after I promised someone I would be there. Or whatever I feel like based on the given day. We are surrounded by people like this but we rarely, I ever, think about the consequences.

Are we living daily wisely or as fools? Are we living in such a way that ensures we are ready of the "end" when it comes? I used to teach this for years and the reaction was almost always the same. Complete and total silence. I would share with the class or the congregation that once we expire and all our work ceases and we are physically no more, our earthly account, so to speak, is closed. We cannot add or remove any more funds. Every check is checked and every balance is balanced. There is now only reconciliation and a tabulation of works and deeds. All that we have accomplished good and bad is now in the hands of the "accountant". We can't add additional information or offer any more insights. Whatever works have been exercised with cruelty, gratitude, malice, joy, hatred, or kind-heartedness is open for judgment and will be rewarded accordingly.

So are we living with the end in mind or do we only care about the present and hope that in our latter moments, we can get some kind of reprieve or an opt out of any penalty for the horrible stuff we may have put our hands to do against others? I didn't make that up. People actually think like that. I've met them personally. I know some of them very intimately. The wise man lives with the future in mind and thinks generationally as in, what will happen to my family as a result of this decision I'm considering. The fool says YOLO. I'm not worried about the future because I may not even be here, taking no consideration for the ramifications or the effect of those they love that are left behind in the event of their passing.

This is a very deep topic that I want to revisit in future blog posts but let me leave you with this thought from Matthew 25:1-13:

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

“But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

I don't expect anyone to say "Amen".

THe EyE OF ThE bEHoLDeR

I remember that old saying "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder". I don't know its origin and I am also not sure how it came about. If I was taking a guess, I'd say that a person walking in an offense came up with it to combat some really raw feelings. It might be a true saying. Maybe it's warped. What people see about you isn't always the truth. Sometimes what they see is deceiving because of how they view what they are looking at or how they view themselves. There's a prevailing thought that there is no such thing as an ugly baby. They are beautiful and they all come from God. I'm not here to dispute that. Matter of fact, let's use a different analogy.

A middle aged man waits for decades to finally buy the car of his dreams. He has accumulated the right amount of money. He orders custom designs to suit his tastes. He gets the phone call that his car is ready. He races to the car dealership and is led to where his brand new dream car is. His mouth falls open as he looks at his investment: a shiny, brand new fuchsia colored Mustang with Kelly green and sky blue racing stripes. He smiles and clenches his fist. "YES!" he shouts as all the salesmen and customers stare at him in disbelief.

"This car looks amazing!", the new owner cries.

"That car is god-awful!", one of the customers mumbles to her husband.

Two different opinions. Two different sets of eyes. One object being viewed. It really comes down to that. This man envisioned this vehicle for years and whatever the reason for this unique color choice, it holds some significance for him and fills him with pride. He thinks it's beautiful. The onlookers think it's gaudy and an eyesore. They are both looking at the same car but see it differently in value, beauty, and appeal.

What would happen if a normal view was distorted or obscured? That would obviously affect your ability to see, correct? It wouldn't change what you were attempting to look at, just how you saw it. There is a Bible passage that I think speaks volumes. Let me warn you first that this is not a popular set of verses.

"And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own? Should you say, 'Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye, 'when you can't even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board, Then you can see to help your brother." (Matthew 7:3-5 TLB)

Look at those wheels.
The color is so bland.
Those rims look like they came from the Dollar Store.
That car probably belongs to a single guy.
This is the kind of car you see in magazines.
That car is so different and unique - I've never seen anything like it.
That car is absolute trash. 

That's a car we're talking about. Now replace the word "wheels" with hair. And after the word "color", add "of her dress". Replace the word "rims" with "shoes". As you can see, it's not a huge leap to talk about people the way we could this car. Remember that passage a little bit ago? What is that mote in his eye was a cultural standard? What if that beam in her eye was a bias because of an incident from her past? What if the person deeming you beautiful or ugly has a problem with their vision? Beauty might very well be in the eye of the beholder. Hopefully, no matter what you hear or what people are saying, you'll enjoy that dream car or whatever else you've been blessed with that people have an opinion about.

oUR fAThER

Most of my friends that possess eyes and ears understand how little I care to post about politics or politic-related topics on social media nor do I care to engage in debates about the topic. This, however, is my personal blog so we'll just call this an exception.

So, the media outlets and social networking timelines are blowing up about the First Lady Melania Trump reciting the Lord's Prayer at a rally in Melbourne, Florida. I have several problems with this but it's not for the reasons you may think. Let's highlight those, shall we?

Let's get one thing out of the way. Despite how I was raised and despite the norm for people of color when it comes to political party choices, I am not a liberal. So if anyone has an argument that starts with that premise, don't bother tapping your little fingers on the keyboard to type that. It doesn't apply to me. My issues are not even related to politics, even though I have read many comments that believe the reading of the Lord's Prayer in Melbourne, Florida (perhaps the history of the city might prove interesting to you if you choose to research it) was political in nature. I don't know that to be the intent and I can't judge it.

Firstly, I take issue with people, especially those that call themselves Christians (which means Christ-like or followers of Christ for those that didn't know) flooding Facebook and Twitter comment sections praising God for returning to the White House. Not only is that ignorant but it also reminds us that many people, in times past and currently, call themselves Christians but harbor some of the worst bigoted, hateful views unlike most any other belief system in the world. We have seen them described as "good Christian folks" and "fine American citizens". Well, those descriptions were of folks who did the most heinous, most soulless things history has ever recorded and who knows what didn't get recorded that was done. Despite what you think about our current President, he is not only not God in the flesh but he is also not even proclaiming to be a Christian. This flies in the face of the comments that are so easily found by so called believers who are telling everyone within ear shot that class and dignity have returned to the White House. (Translation: Class and dignity were not there for the last eight years. We'll come back to that part later.) These commenters are directly what is wrong with the church as we know it today. They stand up boldly proclaiming to be believers of the Bible and all things holy but they carry such loathing, hatefulness, and a gross misinterpretation of the Scriptures that they lead more people into condemnation than they do helping people get out of it.

I will acknowledge right now that anybody can change and grow and become better people but as it stands now, there is much to question about the President and members of his cabinet and much of the things we are hearing in the news. No one is questioning whether he is a Born Again Believer or not. I don't know any long time Christian that even has a question. So for all those Bible-believing friends of ours on the internet saying that God has returned to the White House, the God that many Christians serve isn't blind, dumb, and he will have no other Gods before Him. Might be time for you to check your relationship status. Not on Facebook, I meant with the Lord.



Secondly, the stating of the Lord's Prayer is influential in so many ways. It means something when my grandchildren recite it before they lay down to sleep. It meant something when I used to recite it in public school. It means something when I read it in the Bible and ponder its meaning. I won't question if it means anything to Mrs. Trump. You decide that and if the timing of it should be questioned. At the moment, I don't really care. The prayer touches the heart of many Americans because it appears to suggest that a respect or reverence for the Word of God and prayer has returned to the forefront of our government. This, however, does not certify that a believer is speaking it. A man can recite a favorite poem about liberty and freedom and still go home and treat his wife like a second class citizen. A woman can retweet a post about how great America is and still covertly hate the melting pot of cultures and uniqueness that we have seen around us for centuries. In other words, it's not an automatic indicator that the reciter is a believer of what is being recited. In a world where people are starting to question what they hear and consider carefully before digesting what they are being fed, it is strange how readily accepted this instance is. My only point here is that anyone can recite the Lord's Prayer or say things deemed acceptable from a religious view but it doesn't mean that they believe. It's important that we don't get religion mixed up with relationship with the Creator. When Moses went to the mount to meet with God, it was out of a relationship with Him and a reverence for who He is. The people he left down at the bottom of the mountain were religious. They made their own god and they forged their own rules and it was out of a selfish, flawed design and not out of a loving relationship with Jehovah. Just a thought.

Thirdly and finally, the comments coming from "Christians" regarding this are stomach-churning and vile. The intimation that the previous administration was without class or dignity brings to mind a question. And I have heard this kind of commenting before so it's not like it's original in thought or idea but does this lack of class and dignity have anything to do with the color of the former administrations' skin or is it about their politics? Cue the hate mongers. I'm just asking if this has been considered before pressing "Send". No one seems willing to do this nowadays. I had as big a problem as anyone with the Obama Administration with some policies, both foreign and domestic, approach to our enemies abroad, and what appeared to be sympathy towards a belief system starkly contrasted from the heavily religious (Christian)-laden tones and cues in 2008 and some years after that. I got plenty of issues but the idea that now the White House has class, style, and dignity begs more explanation, particularly because of all that is taking place in the administration in less than a few months. I can't stand when someone pretends to be one thing knowing that they are exactly the opposite. Religion has a tarnished name because people have purported to be holy and good and have cheated, swindled, and used people in the name of religion. Relationship is indicative of people who strive daily to reach what destiny dictates they can aspire to but have not yet fully become. People aren't marching because they had a free Saturday -- they are seeing racism, bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, and whatever else you can add in and they are not willing to be silent about it. It would be dignified and classy to acknowledge these concerns as legitimate and using one's reach to do something about it, rather than summarily dismissing it as bogus or fake. Just something else to consider.

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you. Hopefully, we can search our hearts on some of these matters and truly consider the following words. Let's pray like Jesus instructed His disciples to pray.


OUR Father,

which art in Heaven,

Hallowed be THY NAME.

THY KINGDOM come,

Thy will be done in Earth, As it is in Heaven.

Give us this day OUR DAILY BREAD,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As WE FORGIVE them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the Kingdom, The Power, and the Glory. For ever and ever. Amen.

GOD BLeSs AmErICa

"America! America! God shed His grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!"
(Katherine Lee Bates, 1895)

I can almost remember the first time I heard that song. I was filled with pride and a feeling that this country was a place that dreams can come true for anyone if they worked hard and did the right thing. Perhaps it was a bit naive but I was just a kid then. Now I'm older. I've seen children killed in their own bedrooms by a stray bullet. I've seen men run down in the streets like animals. Even more recently, I've seen unarmed men shot and killed. I've seen prayer removed from public schools. In history class, I heard of brown men being chained and enslaved and stripped of purpose and destiny. I read stories of red men being driven from their land and slaughtered when they refused to simply hand over their heritage, men invited to a banquet and before their food digested, they were extinguished. I was even regaled with accounts of men, women, and children crossing vast waters, escaping war and poverty in search of freedom and the "land of opportunity". These clutched hope with a white knuckle grip. I think we all did and perhaps still do.

"I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart,
I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek ---
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

O let America be America again ----
The land that never has been yet ----
And yet must be ---- the land where every man is free.
The land that's mine --- the poor man's, Indian's, Negro's,
Who made America,
Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain,
Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain,
Must bring back our mighty dream again."
(Let America Be America Again - Langston Hughes, 1902-1967)

I don't know slavery. But I do know and love a woman who spent her entire life of nearly 97 years old as a domestic. I watched her endure hardness and still smile. I don't know the specific struggle of the civil rights movement. But I do know how it feels to be a Black man in America and still not be a criminal, gangbanger, father of multiple children, and a college educated, responsible husband, father, grandfather, and U.S. citizen. I don't know the pain of people being forced off of the land to build a pipeline. I don't know what it feels like to trust a man who gets you to sign away your land and business and, in a flash, you become instantly homeless and destitute. I don't know what it is like to be a woman, an immigrant, or a homeless man in today's America. I don't know a lot of things but I clearly know things have changed. Arguments can be made that things have changed for the better. Quite frankly though, it's hard to see that in absolutes. What I do know is things have changed for me, for my family, my friends, and their families, and for people who neither of us have ever met. With every innovation, a fiber of morality frays and the values that we used to hold dear are now really hard to find.

How has the country changed from what you remembered? Do you have stories of yourself, your parents, or your grandparents coming from other countries to America with a dream? Do you look at the inventions that we oft enjoy and remember the inventor fondly and with pride? Or do those names and faces languish in obscurity, forgotten or never even known at all?

A man that has left us far too soon and served as a mentor to my wife and I shared an incredible saying that I still remember vividly today. "When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable." Another  relevant quote comes to mind "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." I can see the torrid history of this great country just like you can. I can touch the same library books, encyclopedias, and reference material and perhaps come to the same conclusions as you but I believe there is still something great about this country. It's not politics, or our favorite sports teams, or even a great victory in war times that make us great. It's always been about the people who live vigorously, who would die for what they believe, who enjoy incredible food from different cultures, and who work hard to make what started as a dream a full blown reality. They believe that this country is great and they sow seed into what they believe. Small businesses, "mom and pops" stores, charitable organizations, traffic lights, blood banks, spectrometers, carbon filament light bulbs, gas masks, color televisions, the artificial heart, the ball point pen, and pre-fabricated homes just to name a few. The hands that made these and so many other things we enjoy and desperately need came across lands, waters, bridges, borders, and, despite adverse conditions, achieved something extraordinary.

I'd love to hear what makes America such an incredible country in your opinion. Even if you don't share, maybe you can just show compassion to someone who the world at large has forgotten and remember them. God bless America and God bless you as well.

YoU "LIkE" ThAT?

A really good friend shared some things that made me think about what we will sacrifice for the things that we "like".

When you click the "like" button on Facebook, do you like the picture, the video, the sender of the post, and the sentiment attached? Or do you "like" it with an unspoken understanding that you reserve the right to separate yourself from some areas?

Do you pay for a movie and stay for the whole show despite not liking everything about it or do you simply walk out?

Do you vote anyway for an elected official knowing there's some things about him or her you just can't condone?

TV shows, clothes, comfortable conversation, people, comforts, cultures, music.....the list goes on.

What are we willing to compromise for the things that we like? It might be time to take a stand. The world is waiting.....

TOmORROw'S NoT pROmIsED!

This is an old post that really touches me even today. I hope it does the same for you. Enjoy!

So.....we trust the Chef in the kitchen (who I'm telling you from first hand experience might not be doing everything with cleanliness and health in mind) to give you quality and safe food at your favorite restaurant?

We trust the pilot who we can't see (Have you seen Denzel Washington's Flight? Just sayin') to get us to our destination thousands of miles into the sky?

And we trust the banker or financial counselor who has direct access to all of our savings and investments?

Most, if not all of the above, we can't see or even if so, we don't know what is in their hearts and minds or if they carry integrity with them but we cannot trust a God whose faithfulness is shown through every double rainbow, the sun staying in place, fires that burn every apartment in a building down except the one I am in (true story), and the seas that don't mix or overlap each other, etc., every safe passage through literal and figurative storms that some don't escape, your ability to breath daily, and the other countless miracles that modern science and the naysayer are still unable to explain?

Please stop!

Hypocrisy has blinded us to a simple reality: We trust what we can't see every day of our lives. I would humbly offer the explanation that perhaps accepting the idea of a higher power isn't the problem. "Mother Nature" is still getting props and praise and that's absolutely ridiculous! The real problem might be accepting am unseen Creator, which instantly means you were made with purpose then you not only have to accept the purpose and walk it out effectively but then you have to honor that same God with your whole life. That's way harder than throwing a few occasional bones to  "The Man Upstairs".

Just something to think about.
I think current events remind us that tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Make the most of your today!

DeAth bY A ThOuSaNd CuTs: The PluMmEt Of A FrAnChIsE

What was once a proud franchise that sported such famous names like Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Doc Rivers, and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe has now become the laughingstock of the National Basketball League. But it's no laughing matter and die-hard fans of the New York Knickerbockers are not smiling and they are most definitely not finding yet another embarrassing string of events humorous.

As many as there are to be ashamed of, there are many things one could be proud of when it comes to the Knicks. They are one of only two teams (the other being the Boston Celtics) that are still in their original city, which helps add some stability to a franchise that seems to go through turmoil almost yearly. In the early parts of their history, they garnered two championships in the 70's, eight conference championships into the late nineties, five division titles in which the most recent was in 2013, and several players whose numbers have been retired and many have gone on to successful coaching careers in some way, shape, or form. The highlight of the Knick fan's life were those battles against legends like Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon, and Reggie Miller, just to name a few. I'm going to talk about the past but I'll save the highlights for you guys. I'm really not in the mood.

WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH THIS FRANCHISE? If I didn't know better, and I didn't ignore some of my "conspiracy theorist" mentality, I would think someone is single-handedly trying to sink this storied franchise. I would think this is a blatant case of sabotage. Ownership has appeared to go out of their way to make all the wrong moves, approach public relations in exactly the wrong way, and cut the hearts of every die-hard NYK loving fan out of their chests, stomp on them, burn them, and then grind the heels of their shoes into whatever is left. I'm absolutely sickened by what has become of this team. Ever since the early 2000's, I would say that the Knicks have lost themselves and still have yet to locate themselves. They have no identity. They field players who are largely focused on themselves and their individual stats and have forgotten what makes the dream work by utilizing some team work! Somebody might be thinking the same things us fans are: WHY ARE WE HERE?

I think 2002 was really when things began to go downhill when management began to add veteran players with physical issues that they never overcame, all the while paying them exorbitant amounts of money, hamstringing the franchise. But 2003 going into four or five years after were the beginning of the end. Two words. Isiah Thomas. Our history of team presidents is worse than the versions we have seen in Washington and after Scott Layden got pink-slipped, things went from bad to worse. A series of ill fated trades, questionable coaching hires, embarrassing on the court losses in the playoffs, and historically bad win-loss records that would leave a bad taste in even the most casual Knick fans' mouth. And then Anucha Browne-Sanders. This, along with all that preceded, revealed some serious issues with Knicks management and the overall environment at the greatest arena in the world, the Mecca, M.S.G. Fire Isiah was the crowd's theme song before long.

Years of bad draft picks, head-scratching trades, and a flurry of constant personnel changes led us to some acquisitions that would change the Knicks franchise forever and propel them back to their former glory and restore the Orange and Blue pride we once knew. Enter Amare Stoudemire. (lower leg problems). Enter Carmelo Anthony (offensive machine, defensive version of the Invisible Man and all around "flow stopper"). Enter Jeremy Lin. (We were "Lin-sane" to think this was the answer.) Enter Jason Kidd. Enter the Zen Master (Idiotic panic move to bid against yourself and severely overpay for someone who doesn't even want you! It's sad when running a sports franchise is just a glorified part time hobby!). Hey, even Rasheed Wallace came out of retirement to save us. Rose. Noah. We can't lose now! Well, they did lose for years and are still doing so in historic fashion.

The New York Knicks franchise has become a joke that is not funny, even to our rivals. Even they recognize the dumpster fire that is the New York Knicks and they must pity us. It's flat out sad! Now presidents are killing their star player in the media. Fans are turning on the franchise and lighting up social media pages everywhere. Famous superstar fans are more outspoken than ever. (Mookieeee!) And now, most recently, team big wigs disrespecting legends. (See Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing, if you want to get deeper)
Even our enemies know what's up:

"If you're a FA to be, why would you play for an owner who treats the past greats like this or a President who stabs star players in the back?"  ~ Reggie Miller

End of story. And as long as certain players are on the team and certain higher-ups are allowed to freely run the team into the ground night after night, this franchise might be at its end too. Honestly, without all the hyperbole and wisecracks, I don't see how the Knicks can come back from all these leveling blows they have taken for more than a decade. Internal turmoil, infighting, players on milk cartons for a few days, a lack of sound fundamentals, inept management, etcetera, etcetera! I don't see how they can return to prominence and start playing winning basketball. A waste of space and a waste of talent like Kristap Porzingis, one of the best big men we have had on the team in years. They seem to be the perennial doormat and that is a shame and a disgrace.

How does one fix a mess like this? It's hard to stomach and really hard to be proud of a franchise that doesn't respect its legends, great ambassadors, and based on the talent they've put out for years now, they likely don't respect you, the fan, either. Guys like Dolan only understand one thing: the bottom line. I'm not suggesting a boycott of the Knicks even though I have refused to allow them to grace my 70" TV set until some things change. You use your voice as you see fit but until they choose to listen to the heartbeat of the city, sit back and continue to enjoy a heavy helping of bile every other night. The fans deserve better. Heck, the Mecca deserves better!

Please share your thoughts, solutions, and frustrations with the team, the league, or even if you think I'm totally wrong and the Knicks are doing great. Thanks for listening.

tHE aMaZInG rAcE

Walk. Jog. Run. Repeat. 

Division has never been more prevalent than it is today. There is not a moment in history that is more divisive than the one we are in now. We all can pluck out a march or rally, a negative trend of injustices or one horrific event that may dare to challenge that assertion but it will pale in comparison. Why? Because practically everything that has happened before in moments, shades, and blips are happening everywhere all the time, whether your local news cares to share it or not. We have division of all kinds and types. The overt kind that is represented in loud screaming, fighting, and angry marches. The moderate kind that is represented in print media, social media, and poetry, letters, and other literary forms. Then you have the one that makes us quiver: the silent kind.

Very few hear it often in closed circles and in faint whispers. It is suppressed under a smile or shrouded behind a hand shake or a head nod. It is the chameleon of its species. It can blend in with anyone and call them friend but deep down somewhere in the recesses of the psyche, it lurks. Often, it comes out in fits of rage, sudden anguish, or extreme drunkenness that the offender usually has to apologize for. It is the most frightening of all the divisive types because it was there all the time --- hiding in plain sight, camouflaged by niceties and hospitality. We are as a country, as a world, divided and there are still many, perhaps among us right now, that think everything is fine, or being overblown and exaggerated. The tragedy of a lifetime: An undetectable poison that rages through the body and reaches the heart. By then, it is too late and it is final.

Joseph Fort Newton said that "Men build too many walls and not enough bridges." 

I love that quote because it encapsulates what is wrong with mankind, constantly trying to assert their own position and rise above everyone in some attempt to gain an advantage and some level of superiority. Everyone that has lived, is living currently, and ever will live is running. What direction they are headed in and what their destination is will be left to a higher authority than us but we are in a race. 

Walk. Jog. Run. Repeat.

There is a bible passage that I absolutely love. Not because it makes me smile or fills me with joy but mainly because it makes me uncomfortable and causes me to reflect on me. What I refer to in many of my posts and tweets as 'Mirror Time". It makes me immediately and emphatically look at myself and say. "How you doing?????" Are you in the right place? Are you approaching this the right way? Have you trampled on someone to get this far? Did you act with integrity, respect, and honor towards your fellow man today? Plenty of questions. These are just a few.

"There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12 International Standard Version)

Take a thought with this imagery. You have to walk to get from where you are to a destination that is said to be prosperous and glorious and everything a person could ever want or desire. You have heard nothing but good things about it. You have even seen pictures of it and read stories of its glory. But there is no other avenue to get there except but by foot. All you have are directions that a friend gave you and a desire to be in this fantastic place, living out the rest of your days in "awesomeness". You walk and travel for months and eventually you get to the place where you are supposed to be. You only have to step through one more door and you are there. You sigh and take a deep breath as you grab the door knob. You finally made it. You smile and jubilantly step through the door only to find at the very edge of a cliff . You look down in fear and with nothing under you, you fall down hundreds of feet to the rocks below. Over. It seemed right because everyone said so and it was common knowledge but it didn't end well. Walking through this life with the wrong motives and a penchant for chasing one's own lusts is probably a great recipe for a similar result. It likely ends badly. 

Walk. Jog. Run. Repeat.

There is a finish line as sure as there was a starting point. We fight against imaginary slights and pound our fists against clouds of smoke without reason and we achieve nothing but a mass amplification of the division that we have already been buffeted by. Too much time spent pointing fingers. Politicians. Church Folk. Entertainers and Television Personalities. Journalists and Talking Heads. Not enough time looking in that "mirror". Once you are no longer afraid to look, tell me what you see looking back at you. It is all you profess to be openly or a terribly frightened version of what you would rather be instead? Like it or not, we are in this race together. We are the human race running for a prize that cannot be corrupted and cannot be stolen. It is greater and higher than the biggest flat screen, or the fanciest car, or the most lavish home. Despite popular belief, deep past the insecurities, the hurts, and the anger, we want the same thing: To be the best us we can be and make a difference with the life we have been granted. Are you still running? Have you quit because your father quit? Are you still running? Have you given up because your mother said you are not worth it? Are you still running? Can you see the finish line in the distances or are there just mountains blocking your view of it? Walk. Jog. Run. Repeat. 

You're better than your circumstances and the people in your life say you are. You are a marvelous creation. You are not a mistake. You have a voice and you have a purpose. Stop fighting the differences and embrace the likeness. Time is running out but you're closer than you think you are. Run. And finish.

MusIc To hIs EaRs?

Having been actively involved in this for nearly twenty years, I need to post some questions for us to consider and I am positive that a lot of people are not going to get the "warm and fuzzies" from this one but here goes....

What is the responsibility of someone who works in a corporate setting?

Isn't it the norm that the organization has a set of guidelines and standards that the individual must follow?

What happens when they violate the rules of conduct?

In most cases, the violator of the guidelines would be relieved of his/her duties on the grounds that they were in opposition to the policies they agreed to prior.

That doesn't seem to imply to "church musicians" though.

I remember the "humble brags" from singers who serve on two or three choirs a week. Or the keyboard players or drummers that have multiple gigs so they can't stay to hear the Word being preached. It's been speculated long before now that this is the result of a commitment issue. Not a commitment to one's craft but more a commitment to the organization one would serve in.

Who bears the most responsibility? Is it the churches that take advantage of the fact that they are a church so anyone playing for them on a given Sunday service shouldn't expect to be compensated and should play for "the glory of the Lord"? Or does the responsibility fall on the musicians who might use the church and their obvious needs for help as a launchpad into a music career, or at the very least, a part time job?

All musicians are not created equal in this case. I know several who love the Lord and play music for the love of it and because they love serving in a selfless capacity. Then I know the other end of the spectrum where musicians cringe at the thought of sitting in a pew and listening to the Word of God being taught. They want to do their job and go home. They are, in effect, disconnected from what is taking place in the ministry.

So here's some questions for reflection: Should it be mandatory that a church musician (whether they are being paid or not) be a believer who adheres to the statutes of what a Christian is supposed to be based on the Word of God? Should they have to be involved in the ministry in other areas such as Bible Studies, Sunday schools, Outreach, etc? Or should it be allowable to have musicians serve essentially as "hired help" and not expect them to be involved with any of the religious services or any expectation of a commitment to God in lifestyle or practice? How important is it, in your opinion, that a person hired to serve in a role within a religious organization abide by the rules of said organization and be active participants in what the organization believes in?

Whether one is standing on a pulpit with a guitar in their hands or standing on a stage behind a piano, they have an influence over the listening audience, good or bad. This isn't meant to be an assault against church musicians, a group I was joyfully a part of, but this is a question about commitment and where it should be placed.

It's not just church musicians. It's for anyone who serves in ministry. Can we truly be effective in a setting like this without subscribing to what the organization believes is valid and have a lifestyle that matches that belief? Does the Lord care about the skillfulness in which we serve or play music or does he care more about the heart with which we serve or a little bit of both?

Which side of the discussion are you on? This may change nothing in real terms but I'd love to hear your perspectives. If nothing else, maybe we see our commitment levels a little differently. Just maybe.

TicK tOck

Good Morning, Peeps.

So let's jump right in.......you have the question in your hands but what does that mean? What do we have in common? Who is "we" and what is the "what" we have or should have in common? In the current social climate, we are rife with anger, tension, strife, conflict, differences of opinion, hatred, and a number of other things that flood your local and national new sites in epic proportions.  If we are really aware, it might appear as though all this negativity has eclipsed all the good things that are taking place around us, in our neighborhoods, in our communities, in our cities, in our state, in our nation, and ultimately, in our world. What do we have in common? I'm not trying to offer answers as much as I'd like us to consider the question a little more closely. It's not hard to find bad things about people. That's easy. It requires more effort to find valuable, worthwhile things about someone.

What does the Greek have in common with the Roman? What does the rich have in common with the poor or the debutante with a child in a Third World country? We are all victims of the inability to "see". We all have eyes but we do not see. We all have ears but we cannot hear. Does the man in the high tower hear the cries of the little girl with no clean water? Does the war-monger see the tears of the homeless man on the city street without a meal to eat or place to lay his head? Remember the movie, "My Fair Lady"? Henry Higgins considered Eliza Doolittle, her father, and those of that sort "common" because of their use of the English language, the vulgarity of their speech, the clothes they wore, and how they lived. One word, many different meanings and a great deal more applications.

The clock ticks for us all and a precious opportunity ticks away with it! Each passing moment that we spend hating another for the hue of their skin or their accent cheats us the chance to truly experience what the power of love looks like. We think we got it down just because we love our children or our parents but it runs much deeper. Love is the primary reason we still have a chance to fix what we messed up and get back on track. It's love that opens the door wide for the grace we currently live under.

It reminds me of my four year service to an international ministry out of Tampa, Florida several years back. We went into local inner city communities offering mobile Sunday schools, trips to the local foods banks, community feedings for those down on their luck, and back to school bashes. The director and I would do much of this work with bright, hot pink-colored trucks. The one we would use frequently had a broken gas gauge that, for some inexplicable reason, had never been fixed. So we would go to the gas station and fill the truck with gas, not knowing how much it would take and how long before we would run out of gas. Driving day or night in places where alligators were prevalent and native thinking and we could run out of gas made me uptight! (I'm not a hypocrite. I don't like gator shoes, belts, or handbags either.) But that's kind of where we are as a people. We have gas but our fuel gauge is broken. We can't determine when the gas will run out so the wise among us fill up often and do the best we can with what we have while we have it. Grace by definition is for a specific period then it runs out.

I'd be misleading you if I implied there was only one thing we have in common. Everything from our physical makeup to our home lives to our financial situations are all things relatable to the human condition. A personal example is what I discovered after recently writing my first book, "The Heart of the Stepfather". The responses I got from around the nation prove emphatically that people from different walks of life, varied upbringings, other cultures, etc., share the trials and joys of parenting as well. I am more convinced than ever we have more similarities than we were led to believe.

Listen to all the voices talking and analyzing, debating and theorizing, arguing and advising, and you'll see the one and most important commonality at work: The very breath that we breathe. It's arguably the most vital thing we share. Take away that essence of life in us and we are all reduced to merely an empty shell! That breath is a reminder of the love we were fashioned with. It reminds us that we are all human and we share a connection that is bigger than us and for a greater purpose than just to rail against each other and demean one another. We can't see it or contain it but we sorely need it and can't do without it. Hmm.. There's a metaphor in there somewhere. Can you "see" it?