Monday, March 31, 2008

Maximize Your Singleness



Believe me when I say: This is ministering to me.



Matt. 6:33 and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. NLT
Being single is not a curse, it's a blessing. You must realize that while you are single, you can do more for the Kingdom of God than you can while you are married. You answer to God alone and you can move and go as you please. Paul was teaching how good it is to be married, but how much better it is to be single for a season of growth. Plus, as a single, you can focus on finding God and your purpose without having to please God and a spouse. This is a time for you to move into your calling and then find or be found by that special person that fits into the plan of God for your life. But if you don't know God's plan for you, then you are dangerous to others and you should not even consider marriage! Allow God to use you before you begin to pray for a spouse.
Serve God while you are single and realize that it is an opportune time to grow in him.
Tips to being an empowered single Christian in 2008:
- Don't hang out with married people all the time!!! (that will only make you feel odd and long for a partner)
- Stop listening to, reading, and watching movies, books, videos, and music that promote sex and sexual relations. (you don't need that)
- Seek the Kingdom of God by reading the word, praying for others, and being active in your fellowship.
- Be careful in developing relationships with the opposite sex. (if you aren't ready to marry, don't get close!)
- Pick your friends carefully. Don't hang around folks that are deadbeats and aren't going anywhere in life. (surround yourself with people that are already where you are trying go! That will only boost your drive!)
- Don't settle! (if he or she isn't sent from God to you then don't accept it! if you do, you may find yourself lowering your standards for the sake of love. that's a big mistake! )
- Spend time investing in yourself. While you are single, you can do this and not be selfish. Take advantage of that.
- Learn who you are in Christ and appreciate who he made you to be.
- Don't listen to negative talk about youself, but know in your heart how special you are to God and how special you will be to someone in the future. Anyone that does not consider you special does not deserve your friendship or your time.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Obama Hype and Movies

I'm sad because Obama is in my proximity and I can't go!!! He's having a Town Hall meeting today in Greensboro and they only gave away 2000 tickets...Unbelievable, I tried everything in my might to get these tickets to no avail. Okay...moving on. (If he shows up at the N&R, I'll let you know!)


Summer Movies of 2008 that I'm looking forward to seeing:

IronMan - May 2


Wall-E June,27

He kinda reminds me of Number 5 from Short Circuit.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

I think it would be nice....


Wouldn't it be nice to have a Black first lady and two young, intelligent, well-behaved Black girls in the White House?

Wouldn't it be nice to see those young girls grow up to be decent young ladies?

Think about it, how many other candidates (in either party) have school aged children?

Wouldn't it be nice to see some inner city kids playing on the White Houselawn during the Easter Egg Roll?

Wouldn't it be nice to see a high ranking Black person finally at the table, but not just at the table -at the HEAD of the table?

Wouldn't it be nice to see a Black family bring multicultural traditionsto the White House?Wouldn't it be nice to see a Black woman on HGTV or any other show giving a tour of the White House during the holidays - showing the decorations on the Christmas trees and explaining the meaning behind her holiday theme?

Wouldn't it be nice to see more Black people being entertained in the Rose Garden?

Wouldn't it be nice to see a photo of young Black children in the Oval Office for Take Your Child to Work Day?

Wouldn't it be nice and ironic to have a Black person create and own a Presidential library, especially when most people like to say that Black people don't read?

Wouldn't you be curious to go to DC for a change and actually considertaking a White House tour?

Wouldn't it be nice to see more Black people all across the country do the same?

Wouldn't you be proud to hear them play Here Comes The Chief for a Black person for a change?Wouldn't it be nice to see the Armed Forces salute a Black Commander-in-Chief?

Wouldn't it be nice to see someone who looks like us taking the oath of office on the White House steps, giving a State of the Union Address, giving weekly radio addresses, and signing things into law with the Presidential pen?

Maybe it's just me that I've never dreamt for anything this big but isn't it nice to know that someone else has?

Wouldn't it feel good to make that Dream come true?

What if it were you or your family, wouldn't it be nice to know that someone would vote for you if they had the Opportunity ?

Some people ask the question why - I'm saying why not?


The world is looking at us, wondering if what we will do when we're presented an opportunity of a lifetime. They will be wondering whether we are really ready for our situation to change, even a little bit? Regardless if you are a democrat or republican, just something to think about as a black person....Everyone,I realize that some folks are supporting Hillary Clinton and if you areyou need to read this. Barack Obama inspired me to pass this on to you. To me he is a strong black man who, in the face of setbacks growing up, pushed on with the support of a strong black woman who is 100% behind him. Together they are making history. This is the America I want to live in. This is what our families should be like!, and can be like.


This is also circulating and you may find it of interest. I am not the author. Many black folks in America talk hesitantly about voting for Barack Obama in the primaries and caucuses. But here are a few things to consider: Sports among other things, is a microcosm of the mentality of society. Recently, the NFL has mandated teams to interview at least one qualified Minority candidate for each opening. Every NFL owner signed off on it. 'Qualified' head coaches are plucked from the ranks of offensive and defensive coordinators. Look around, no one is promoting black offensive or defensive coordinators...in pros or college. In effect it nullifies the opportunity altogether. When Kareem dominated the game, the college basketball leaders outlawed dunking. Yes, it's true. As Tiger Woods blazed the trail, the golf governors sought to 'Tiger-proof' golf courses. Obama's big break came during his Democratic National Convention speech. Rest assured, he will be the last black person to get that kind ofnational stage if it follows the same pattern as sports.


Not my child, not my grandchild, not yours either. Many of us say America isn't ready to vote him in yet. I wonder, is he the best guy for the job or am I interested in him onlybecause he's black? His opponent being a woman is suddenly enough, so is being black any less dignifying? Maybe, maybe not. However, 20-30 years from now, we'll have to tell our grandkids why we voted the way we did. How will we justify it then when sports have taught us that the field will be changed almost immediately as soon as a black person rises to the pinnacle? So if not now, it's not a question of when. The answer may be NEVER.


Twenty or thirty years from now some of us will answer to Emmitt Till,Medgar Evers, Martin, Malcolm and GOD himself in heaven as to why we passed up this opportunity. GOD will remind us that HE gave us the story of Joshua and Caleb and the lack of self-determination and self-worth that lead to 40 years of wilderness when the promised land was a hill away. GOD may ask us: Didn't your great grandfathers die for this chance? Didn't your grandparents pray for this chance? Didn't you hope and dream of this chance? I heard your prayers, sorrows, and cries. Didn't I give you the chance? Why after 400 years of bondage, would you Reason with yourself to pass it up? Did you not understand it was less about you and more about ME? He may say, 'I gave you the chance but you wanted complete certainty, a guarantee that it was okay now. Check it out. I never work that way.'

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

You Kept Me


You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind, but GOD
KEPT
me sane.
(Isa. 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go no longer, but the LORD
KEPT
me moving.
(Gen 28:15)

At times, I've wanted to las h out at those whom I felt had done me
wrong, but the LORD
KEPT
my mouth shut.
(Psa. 13)

Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough, but GOD has helped me to
KEEP
the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid,
etc.
(Matt. 6:25-34)

When I thought I would fall, HE
KEPT
me up. When I thought I was weak, HE KEPT
me strong!
(I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)

I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!

Praise the Lord and pass the filet mignon! I'm Blessed to be
KEPT!
Are you, or do you know a
KEPT
Woman?

If so pass it on to her to let her know she is KEPT,
OR
just keep it for yourself!

Either way, YOU SHALL BE BLESSED.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

An Open Letter to Obama from Toni Morrison



Im going to continue my theme of edifying Barack Obama as our Democratic candidate for presidency. Even if you don't share in the same sentiments you would have to agree that this public endorsement by Toni Morrison, who first set the notion that Bill Clinton was the first black president, is clearly phenomenal. If you haven't seen it take a look:

**************

Dear Senator Obama,

This letter represents a first for me--a public endorsement of a Presidential candidate. I feel driven to let you know why I am writing it. One reason is it may help gather other supporters; another is that this is one of those singular moments that nations ignore at their peril. I will not rehearse the multiple crises facing us, but of one thing I am certain: this opportunity for a national evolution (even revolution) will not come again soon, and I am convinced you are the person to capture it.
May I describe to you my thoughts?

I have admired Senator Clinton for years. Her knowledge always seemed to me exhaustive; her negotiation of politics expert. However I am more compelled by the quality of mind (as far as I can measure it) of a candidate. I cared little for her gender as a source of my admiration, and the little I did care was based on the fact that no liberal woman has ever ruled in America. Only conservative or "new-centrist" ones are allowed into that realm. Nor do I care very much for your race[s]. I would not support you if that was all you had to offer or because it might make me "proud."

In thinking carefully about the strengths of the candidates, I stunned myself when I came to the following conclusion: that in addition to keen intelligence, integrity and a rare authenticity, you exhibit something that has nothing to do with age, experience, race or gender and something I don't see in other candidates. That something is a creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom. It is too bad if we associate it only with gray hair and old age. Or if we call searing vision naivete. Or if we believe cunning is insight. Or if we settle for finessing cures tailored for each ravaged tree in the forest while ignoring the poisonous landscape that feeds and surrounds it. Wisdom is a gift; you can't train for it, inherit it, learn it in a class, or earn it in the workplace--that access can foster the acquisition of knowledge, but not wisdom.
When, I wondered, was the last time this country was guided by such a leader? Someone whose moral center was un-embargoed? Someone with courage instead of mere ambition? Someone who truly thinks of his country's citizens as "we," not "they"? Someone who understands what it will take to help America realize the virtues it fancies about itself, what it desperately needs to become in the world?

Our future is ripe, outrageously rich in its possibilities. Yet unleashing the glory of that future will require a difficult labor, and some may be so frightened of its birth they will refuse to abandon their nostalgia for the womb.

There have been a few prescient leaders in our past, but you are the man for this time.

Good luck to you and to us.

Toni Morrison

Saturday, March 08, 2008

All of us love Obama....

J. Anthony Brown murrdahs the hits! I love this one, though. It's catchy, and sooo different than will.i.am





I didn't know the brotha could sing! I caught myself in a head bob.

Monday, March 03, 2008

OHIO, please don't let us down!


I found this in an email and it really hits on some points...but I'll let you decide.



1. He's not ready/He's not experienced. Man please. You have the top 3 Democratic candidates with 1 Senate term under their belt. Hillary as the First Lady as experienced? Not one executive decision is made being as the first lady. That's like Stedman recommending a book, endorsing a candidate, or having his own show...SO WHAT.


2. White America is not ready for a Black president. Whaaa? Was White America ready for slavery to end? Giving us the right to vote? Desegregation of our society? When did black people ever let white people dictate when and where we were getting our just due, our break? We've always stepped up and demanded what we wanted, or we were either hitting the streets and tearin' up some stuff, escapin', marching, or picketing. White America is ready for a Black President because Barack Obama is the right man for President, PERIOD. Besides, that never stopped anyone from voting for Jesse Jackson, a man with NO political experience AT ALL from almost snatching the Democratic nomination in 1984, and coming darn close again in 1988 20 YEARS AGO.


3. Barak is half black and half white, so he's not really black anyway. I should backsmack anyone who has ever thought that. Ever heard of the one drop rule? It has not only been a social standard for WHO is black, but it also upheld the constitution in keeping us from suing a white person over personal property. No black person ever refers to another black person as "biracial". You black. You might have another heritage in your lineage, but this country as well as any other sees you as black, PERIOD. Lame excuse people.

4. I don't know what issues Barack stands for. When the heck has that ever prevented black folk from voting for a black candidate, really? I guess now, but the main people saying that couldn't tell you anything about Hillary's or John Edwards platform either. Please stop fronting.


5. All he did was give that one speech. How many great people have defined their lives, the scope of human history, and changed the world in a speech? Moses, Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, and Jim Valvano all have changed the course of history of the world and the hearts of billions of men and women in societies since the beginning of time with a speech. That is the purpose of a rally. A person speaks, and it prepares all to act in relation to the spirit of what is spoken. That is why we go to church, not to just hear our pastor blather, but to refresh God in our hearts and spurn us to take up God's will in our lives. So save all that ying yang about that speech.


6. If all of those white people are supporting him, he must be in their back pocket. Save the conspiracy theory home skillet. He's liked because he comes at a time where a person that looks exactly like them lied to their face (two in a row, if you include Bill Clinton with Monica and of course Bush with Iraq), and flat out said what no politician would admit: We have two Americas, blue and red, black and white. It was not publicly said, and on top of that proposed that we ACTUALLY DO something about it, not find more ways to be divided and not come together despite our differences. Noble concept, and one to be championed. That's JFK, FDR, and Abe Lincoln material. So they were feeling it, just like I was and you should too. His legislative work has been indicative of this as well, including his Fuel Standard work with President Bush. Check the resume, it shines.


THE REAL REASON BLACK PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA IS THAT THEY ARE AFRAID THAT HE'LL WIN, AND:


1.WE'LL HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES LEFT. We won't be able to say, "America is racist", "I cannot get a break because I'm black", and all other random excuses many blacks make for not achieving anything in their lives.

2. IF SOCIETY IS LEFT UNCHANGED AFTER HIS PRESIDENCY WE'LL LOSE HOPE. If a black man becomes President, I honestly believe many black people feel that all of the world's problems should come to an end. No more crack selling, no more black on black crime, no more baby mama drama and dead beat daddies, no more people on welfare and on the chow line, no more wineoes, no more police brutality, no more DWB, no more predatory loans, no more ghettos, no more racism period, no more Middle East unrest, just everybody singing cumbaya. To some degree, I think alot of white people, especially liberal, feel that way too, that's why they are all up on him like that. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. If it happened, he'd be one of the greatest people that ever lived, but that's way too much pressure to put on one man. DANG! I feel that people are really not ready for the world to get better anyway. It's like that father you never knew but won't make a relationship with because you don't want to be let down. It's unfair and let that go. Barak will make a great President, but he won't solve all of the world's problems, nor can he solve all of black peoples' problems either.


3. SO CALLED "EDUCATED" BLACK PEOPLE WON'T BE SO SPECIAL ANYMORE BECAUSE THE PLAYING FIELD WILL BE LEVELED. Absolutely hate more than anything else. The above 2 reasons were largely a poor disadvantaged black person's inner fear about Barack. Many of number 2 and all of this one is specifically tailored to you bourgeois folks that actually like being the only black person (or one of a very few) in your medical school, your law school, your master's program, your Ph.D. program, your high fallutin' Fortune 500 Company, your faculty at your prestigious institution. You feel deep inside being a talented 10th will become a talented population. As much as you detest and look down at your disadvantaged brothers and sisters, and claim they need to "get a job", "get an education", "pull themselves up from their own bootstraps", and "stop being so ignorant", you like them where they are. You are the one that has that shady feeling in your belly when a new black person is hired because you don't want them to screw it up for you. Yeah you...I'm talkin' about you. You know who you are. You think deep inside, Keishas, Darnells, Shequans are going to get theirs now that Barak is in office, and you won't be so special anymore. See you like racism. You probably are like Clarence Thomas, the man that benefitted from Affirmative Action but now you got yours, nobody else can get in too, so you vote against Affirmative Action. Yeah, claim you got your opportunity on merit. No, you got it on the backs of our ancestors that had to fight for you to get that job. Now you don't want a world where everyone has an equal opportunity. Well actually neither do poor blacks either, see 1.


3. IF HE MESSES IT UP, WE'RE ALL SCREWED. Back in the day blacks with degrees could do nothing but shine shoes outside the company. Now we're in them, making decisions, even CEOs like my man Stanley O'Neal, the first black American to take the helm of a major Wall Street firm. That brother completely mismanaged the company, like many others who mismanaged banks and cause losing equity because of security back subprime loans. Now, those that are in the know are afraid that a black man cannot ever get that opportunity to be THE MAN at a major institution again. Not only that, if Barack messes it up, there will be a backlash on all of black America. "You guys had your chance to run the free world, and you blew it". Sorry Charlie, Barak is one man. You can't use the logic for yourself as far as getting ahead, but lose it for this man. George Bush completely botched America's standing in the world, but I don't see anyone afraid to elect another white man. So come off of it.


4. BLACK WOMEN FEEL SORRY FOR HILLARY BEING CHEATED ON BY THE REAL FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT. This is so dumb, I cannot address with words, but it's the truth for alot of black people, who felt Bill was the first Black President, and sistas especially would feel like they were vindicating a woman that was done wrong by anotha brotha.


5. BLACKS LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHITES AND BARAK WILL BREAK DOWN BARRIERS WE LIKE HAVING UP. Keep it real people. You hate it when anything we do gets imitated. It is instantly uncool. Most blacks love that we have our own thing, our own culture. Having Barack win means for a lot of people America will have more of a shared consciousness. We'll actually have to come together and squash some beef to make this country cooperative. I don't completely believe this concept, but I'm down for it. Once again, Black people really do like racism. For all of you doubters out there this is what you really need to ask yourselves: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. That's all the brotha is trying to do. So vote for him, drop the excuses, and support the first viable Black Candidate. Our ancestors demand that we do so.