Emmanuel for the New Year.

I really love music, there are very few variations of music I do not find reasons to appreciate.  God has made me this way, HE has made us all in such a way, that we enjoy many different things.

Ever consider what is the GRANDEST thing we were created to enjoy?

Recently I don't feel like I have taken proper advantage of it, but I wonder if you have...

A few days ago we celebrated the coming of Jesus (Yeshuah) Christ to the earth.  He came for one purpose, to mend the damage that was done centuries ago that made it difficult for humanity and God to make the type of connections that were available in the beginning of creation.

As we approach the new year I want to remind everyone that we need to be ever mindful of the best gift we where ever given each and every day...the promise that GOD IS WITH US.

Strange Hate

Have you ever been ostricized because of a good moral decision; or picked on, or talked about behind your back?

It is strange but common how people will look at you funny when your convictions to NOT participate in certain activities will cause people to act hatefully towards you.  Even the bible speaks of it.

I Peter 4:4 In which they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of dissipation, speaking evil of you:   (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

It seems morality is mere political correctness, and in actuality, people become offened when you display superior moral character in living because of how it makes them look.

Often they say; "oh you think you are better than me/us."  Sometimes they try to encourage you to see that there is no harm in it.  They don't understand how one can live without doing what they do so regularly.

In the end, this strange hate is not really directed towards you, but towards God; and sadly, they don't even realize it.

Giving up the fantasy for the Dream

The best people to speak to about relationships are those in them, this is a post about seeking a marriage partner.

If you're like me, you have created a list.  You know the list...of what you will or will not tolerate when looking for a mate.  Much of this is superficial, like how tall, or skin color, or type of hair. 

Others are more crucial, at least to us.  Until recently I would not consider marrying someone with kids, and I still refuse to marry a smoker; but most things on our top 10 list are probably keeping us from the marriage of our dreams.

Sadly, most compromise on the most important "do nots" when it comes to relationships, but are holding to the unimportant things religiously.

I am becoming more convinced that I need to focus on the right requirements and burn my superficial fantasy list.  Perhaps you too need to consider that as well.  We may be blessed by it.

You will not surely die...right?

People are, you are, sometimes even I am...listening to the devil more than I listen to God.

Eve knew the truth, but the simple words; "Did he really say you would die?"

How often do you believe such lies?  Did you know people actually believe they can see death coming?  Many, maybe most...though they probably would not believe it, act like this every day.  One example pulls tears from your eyes.

A woman sat down with a couple who helped people with structuring their finances.  After being taught the wisdom of proactive financial decisions, the couple was eager to get a  program for themselves.  They took care of many important areas, but adamantly refused to get life insurance coverage for their young daughter.  She died a few weeks later.

How long will we listen to faulty wisdom?

PREMATURE INFATUATION

Today a part of a song popped into my head: "I wish I never met her..." from a jam by Carl Thomas.

Watch "Carl Thomas - I Wish" on YouTube

Now I have never personally dealt with the married woman situation, but I've had a few personal situations where I was attracted to females who had boyfriends out of state. (You could not tell by their actions until they revealed the secret.)

And just like poor Carl, I could see the "I want you" in their eyes.  For us males, this does not bring out a creepy tingle; just a huge ego boost. 

Now as this song came to mind, the Spirit quickly interjected in regards to the songs intent.  The real sadness is that there was this quick jump into physical matrimony and a giving of the heart prematurely.  [Numbers 15:39 reminds us how our hearts need to be examined constantly.]

I too have done the latter of the two, and this is why many our our past situations hurt us so bad.  But there is hope for the hurting heart.

Psalms 27:13 I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 
27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  

We just need to spend more time waiting on God, than wishing we hadn't made mistakes.

Do we HATE God?

With people, we can often like different things and still be friends, of at least not be enemies.  You know the saying, "agree to disagree."  Even when we have conflicting views on HOT BUTTON subjects.  We ought not hate those who don't feel as we should.  Especially if they believe contrary to the bible.

Too often people want to throw verbal lacerations, or even come to blows.  Many times, those who claim to love God act unbecoming of a follower of Christ.  However we Christians are to be CHRIST-LIKE...

I Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  4:8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given unto us his Holy Spirit.  

Our relationship with God is different; we are to LOVE WHAT GOD LOVES, AND HATE WHAT GOD HATES.

If we do this properly, we will act like God would want us to act the majority of our lives.

Sometimes we forget that we are SAVED BY GRACE not saved by our good graces.

ANTI-DEPRESSANT

I am one who has been in depression, so don't take my words without considering that.

I am not sure how deep my depression was, but much of my memories of my 7th grade year are darkness.  I mean that literally.  I don't remember much but the sadness I felt.  Not all of my memories are bad; it was during that year I 1st found my fondness for writing, though I never channeled much effort to it outside of class.

From 6th grade on to high school I dealt with this inner sadness and sorrow.  I loathe what my life was, but I hid it from everyone.  

I remember one afternoon just crying because I hated so much of my existence, I couldn't see anything to be thankful for, I had analyzed my many faults and came to the conclusion that I was worthless.  I had many word spoken to me, even from my parents that made me believe that I was a loser.  The only thing left for me was to kill myself.

That thought startled me.  It almost came out of nowhere. Kill myself I thought.  Almost immediately I threw that idea out of my head.  There was just no way I could do that, and it was not the idea of how I would ever get up the nerve to off myself, but this one thought brought me out.  

I HAVE HOPE.

Somehow, despite all my deceitfulness, and lack of paying attention to God, I realized that I had a hope IN GOD, and there was no way I was going to kill myself when things would eventually get better.

Psalms 42:11 

Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disturbed within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  

Years later I came across this verse and it all made more sense to me, God had truly been my hope.  It was around that time that I also found out the nature of my hope IN CHRIST JESUS. 


 Who through His death on the cross and triumph over death, has given full access to life and HOPE.

LIVE WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE

Its interesting how our perspective get better when we are about to die.

The Top 5 Regrets In Life By Those About to Die | Addicted 2 Success

A most important relationship

John 15:9-15
How can we have meaningful relationships without the MOST meaningful relationship. So many people believe they are in love. I know of a couple who seemed to be in a happy and even blessed relationship. However now they aren't even together. Many are claiming to be in love, and feel that the other person loves them. I just want you to seek the Lord when you evaluate whether someone loves you. It starts with... Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Notice how, LOVING GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE SELF COMES FIRST. Then loving your neighbor as you would yourself. I would suspect that many with relationship problems are having the same issue that God has with their significant other. However, before you go there I in thought, it is wise to turn the eyes of scrutiny on SELF first.

LAZY AFTER NOON

The other day I took a liberty, I slept in.

I could have done many things that needed to be done, but I decided to sleep later than normal that day.  It sounds lazy, but consider the fact that I had many 14+ hour days for many weeks straight.  Mind you there were probably a day or two within that time that I got a break. 

I don't care for sleeping in late, it makes me feel like I am being lazy, and although we do need to rest, most of the time we take our "resting" to extremes.  We too often lag around when we should be productive.  We turn an hour break into 4 or 5 hours and we often spend those times preoocupied with worthless activity that does nothing to build us into better people.

THE BIBLE SAYS A FEW THINGS ABOUT LAZINESS...read Proverbs!

LAZINESS prevents us from working.  Often blocking blessings we could be sowing into our lives with good spiritual activity.

REMEMBER WE ARE NATURALLY SINFUL IN HABIT.
People are disinclined to activity.
They don't like activity
They love easy.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR WICKED HEART.
Are you a thief, gambler, or a Beggar
(Prov 19:15; 10:4; 24:30-34)
If you tend to be lazy, then you display characteristics of theives, beggars, and gamblers.  Which means like everyone else, you have things that need adjusting or even a good annihilation out of your life.

THE TIME TO CHANGE IS NOW
1)Don't put off tomorrow what can be done today.
2)Look into your heart and see where the flesh has control..."it pays to discover."
3)Humbly allow God to change your life.

LET THE PROCESS BEGIN!

BEST KEPT SECRETS

Can you keep a secret?

Sure you can, we all can.  As a matter of fact, we all often keep the best things secret.

Usually when people use this phrase, they are in the process of exposing the secret best kept.  You see the best secrets we keep are those things we should not be keeping secret, and our worse kept secrets are what we probably should keep clandestine. 

Why do we feel the best kept secrets SHOULD BE best kept...secret?  It is interesting that the bible states certain things we should speak openly about:
THE GOSPEL
THE GOODNESS OF GOD
WHATETVER THINGS ARE TRUE
OF GOOD REPORT
THE BLESSINGS WE RECEIVE FROM OUR TEACHERS/MENTORS
THE WORD OF GOD(to our children)
As a matter of fact, our talk should be saturated with these things. Even our thoughts.
People are hurting and in need of some good news, the darkness needs some light, and we are the embers that can spark a blazing fire.
SO WHAT IS YOUR BEST KEPT SECRET?

CONFRONT WITH KINDNESS

II Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be diligent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  4:1 I charge you therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;   (KJ2000 - sent from CadreBible)

It is quite natural, and even spiritual to feel some sort of heaviness when we see a professing Christian following the ways of the world.  And our 1st impulse is to go straighten them out like a hot comb...in the mighty name of our LORD.

Such methods are seldom successful, selah. I THANK TOZER FOR THESE WORDS(slightly modified by me)

Usually such methods don't B3ARFRUIT is because the heat of our spirit is not from the Holy Spirit. I have only once felt the righteous indignation of God fall upon me prodding me to respond, and I did. It was the most interesting feeling, which I will not go into much detail on, but it reminded me of Pentecost. It pushes you forward and restrains you simultaneously. Most interestingly enough was the outcome, because I had previously GONE OFF on people before in an "spiritual" way and as Tozer notes "it can very well do more harm than good." Well this time it ended up quite well, I found out the other person was a believer and they were focused to rethink their own actions. Now back to Tozer As in everything, Christ is our perfect example and a prayerful face-down meditation on the life of Christ will show us how to oppose with KINDNESS and reprove with CHARITY. The power of the Holy Spirit will enable us to follow His blessed example. The baptism of the Holy Spirit will ALWAYS bring a spirit of LOVE...and....SWEETNESS and CHARITY. (The action of love)

NOTCHES

I am sure you have seen it.

Young ladies who seem to be sleeping around with everyone, looking for the affection they never got from their real daddies.  Not sure exactly what the connection is with sexual relationships and fatherly love, but that is what plays out many times. 

Have you also noticed a flipside to this sad situation?

Imagine Jay-Z's "give it to me" playing a a get together and a little baby girl no older than 4 is doing her little baby dance, you know that dance with the rhythmic squating action.  Right as the part goes "when the remy's in the system, ain't no telling will I _____ them or diss them" starts there is a grown man with money in his mouth on his knees moving his head like a snake to the rhythm in from of the cute little girl.  Awwww....right?

"Gimmie that funk that sweet that nasty that gushy stuff"

What if that man was the girl's father?

I don't know why this happened in my dream, but all I can remember was that I was the man and I was asking myself why would I be doing this with my daughter? (Which I don't have)

However these are the kinds of things we do to our young ladies and daughters and I don't see the wisdom in it.  TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO, not in the way they should hoe.  I just feel that many don't take the time to consider the psychological impact on their children because they don't see how it effects them.  I only ask that you pray and seek God's wisdom.

Why are we selling our kids into slavery?

When you look at your kids growing up, what do you want for them?  Limitations, mediocrity, unnecessary stress...indentured servitude?

What's the old mantra?
Go to school,
        get a degree (or two)
                     Get a good job.

Often this is through the uses of student loans. (The forbidden fruit I have partaken)

The number of education loans has currently our paced consumer credit debt, and soon many more will be in bondage.  It is sad to see how many in the middle class are digging ditches for those they love to climb out of.  Is this what love looks like?  I thought love pays for debts, not encourages them.

I suggest while your kids are young, you rethink how you set you kids up from life. Take a look at information shared in FORBES magazine this summer about how the rich keep their kids in higher financial positions than the average person does.  Remember its not about quantity of life, but quality of life...and how you steward over what you have.  Part of that is looking out for the future of those you care about, especially the children.

From FORBES (how to make you kid a millionaire)

1) Don't over educate.
That masters degree your son or daughter wants my be a bad investment (Laurence Kotlikoff Boston Univ) "Pursue academics if you love hitting the books, Don't do it for money"

2)Find a cheap B.A.
More prestegious univiersities don't mean automatic success, personal ambition and drive do. Lower the cost of Education as much as possible, with grants and scholarships.  The new strategy is going to community college you 1st 2 years

3) Fund a ROTH
TELL YOU KIDS YOU WILL MATCH EVERY DOLLAR THE EARN WORKING, PROVIDED THAT YOU DOLLARS GO INTO A RETIREMENT ACCOUNT THEY PROMISE NOT TO TOUCH FOR 50 YRS. Then be blessed by tax code preference and the POWER OF COMPOUND INTEREST.

4)Shun credit card debt

5) Shop for a 529

6)Give them Grandpa's IRA

7)Start them YOUNG
Not small allowances, but larger ones and require them to pay for clothes and other things.

8)Give Stock

9)Put You kids in a house

10)Hire you Offspring

The best truth you never had

This is the song that started it all, and the 3rd installment of the BEYONCE SERIES. The reason it is the beginning of the whole process of analzing the album is because I follow one of the albums producers and I heard so much praise about this song. 

SO WHAT OF THE PRODUCTION...
There is a nice piano melody and it sounds almost like a live band as opposed to the product of a production kit.  It gives you the feeling of triumph and that you can survive and move on with hope.  Or maybe that's just the Lyrics?

I WOULD ADVISE BROTHAS TO STEER CLEAR OF THE VIDEO...THAT GIRL B IS ALL LINGERIED UP AND TEMPTING FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE VIDEO.

The song is about when you find out the real person beneath the front most people put up when they 1st meet someone.  You know we 1st meet someone, we are always on our best behavior, in our "impress mode" and all swaggered up like a peacock.  Eventually we let our guard down as the relationship grows.  People can only hold up a front for so long, then the desires that enslave them pull the realness out of their character.  We all go through this stage in relationships, so is this why many connect to this song?

The song reminds me of the warning in the Song of Solomon about GUARDING YOUR HEART, and a saying I've recently heard; "when someone tells you who they are, believe them!"

I always tell the young ladies in high school to allow time to uncover the lies before they give up too much to someone.  They should be waiting on marrige anyway.

TIME AND TRUTH GO HAND IN HAND.

Its sad how many teens feel they cannot do without sex for a short period of time.  They end up HAVING a lot of the worst "things" unlike how the song says.  Do the lyrics mean she didn't sleep with the guy?  I hope so, but as 2 Timothy says,"men will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."  Which begs the questions...what does she mean by "never had?" I just pray that as many of you ladies connect with this song, that you are keeping yourselves for that right person...fellas too.  What use is reliving past people you had to let go while singing "THE BEST THING I NEVER HAD" but they actually "had" you....multiple times even?

THERE SHOULD BE MORE THINGS YOU NEVER HAD, THAN THINGS YOU HAVE HAD.

RATINGS
THE SONG IS RECYCLABLE (slight changes would improve)
@Children: should not even listen to this song, not just because of the use of a cuss word
@Teens: could identify with the song, best you sit and have a conversation with a mature adult.
@Adults: great song to have some real deep talks with those you love
@EVERYONE (including me) THINK OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO SIN WHEN YOU HEAR THIS.

1 + 1 = _______

Love has many adverbs (from Unozip)

"If I ain't got nothing I got you
If I ain't got something I don't give a ____ cause I got it with you
I don't know much about algebra, but 1 plus 1 equals 2
And its me and you...that's all well have when the world is through
Cause baby we ain't got nothing without love
Darling you got enough for the both of us.
So c'mon baby, make love to me"
- 1+1 sang by Beyonce'

Ok, where to begin.  1st it seems like a great love song, I mean nothing says "I love you" like "you are the only possession that matters to me."  Almost taken straight from the pages of the marriage vows, at least from the spirit of it. Then it seems to borrow from the old soulful love songs with some "I don't know much about..." love analogy that you may be familiar with.

Ex: "I don't know much about history....but I know that I love you, and I know if you love me to WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD IT WOULD BE!"

The chorus repeats "make love to me, ohh baby make love to me!"  Which is what I want to focus on.  This is actually more of a Marvin Gaye song, than a ballad of love.  That's wonderful for those married, not so much for those who aren't.  Countless example in your own surroundings tell you that healing is not a most common byproduct of sex, largely because everyone is having it and they seem to complain a lot.  There is even the idea that when someone is frustrated, they just need some good sex and that will make them feel better.  As with most physical pleasure, that sort or thinking is like putting a band-aid on gunshot wound or only taking aspirin when your appendix ruptures.

Also consider the whole idea that "making love" is an upgraded version of sex where the same motions are bolstered by a mental and emotional affinity that transcends simple physical pleasure. That is a topic all in itself, just know that love occurs outside of physical intimacy.  In actuality, physical intimacy is strengthened by the bonds of love, but sex is not love.

You MAKE LOVE when you DO the selfless sacrificial things that encourage, nurture, build up, help, or simply brings happiness to the other person.  At the same time, it also does only that which is to the best benefit of the other person, even if happiness is sacrificed in the process.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
GOD IS LOVE...
                                                GOD = LOVE...
                   Sex is not God....                           sex is not love...
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Love is an action, a verb.  All types of love do not involve sex, just as all types of sex do not involve love.  I suppose this song represents the intimacy of love, but many will listen and perpetuate the flawed thoughts I just discussed. 

The melody is hypnotically good, and the desperation she conveys when its sung will drive many to a reckless reminiscence of past relationships ("loves") lost, or even lock them further into current unwise relationships.  Sadly there thoughts stuck in fantasy worlds that don't involve God, or even a spouse.  Many will be to mesmerized by her talent to notice these pulls.
Sure you could be thinking about a spouse while listening, I wouldn't frown on married people jamming the track, in each others arms sharing unending devotion to each other regardless of outside circumstance.  I just feel that would be a small statistic.

OVERALL
This track isn't trash, but it is RECYCLABLE.
I would not recommend you let children under 16 listen to it.
I would say this song is only for those married.
I recommend you read "THE 4 LOVES" by C. S. Lewis.

THERE IS A BAN ON THE FIRE WORKS

From LaredoBuzz.com

So in Houston there is a ban on fire works(pray for the venders because they are losing much needed income in a relatively low economy).  I am also watching this movie called "Our Family Wedding" which features Forest Whitaker.  Its an interesting movie about the stupid racist tendencies between blacks and Hispanics(ever see "Black In Latin America).  One of the other currents of thought is many of the negative side effects of getting married.  This is a common theme in ironically named "romantic/love" movies, which are usually about people who have lost the spark in their relationships and somehow find it again.

The realness is simply this, we don't know how to love.

There seems to be a ban on the fireworks.

The big issue is that most of us....all of us have it all wrong.  THAT LOVE THING...we have it all wrong.  Those who have the best relationships say the same thing when given the chance.  "That I love my (spouse) more today than I did the 1st time I loved her."  THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.  Learning to love each other more and more and more.

Our communities should be one huge web of love. 

Since we don't know how to love and we all are aware that NO ONE IS PERFECT, we should in turn be able to allow love to gradually have its perfect work in us...through patience.


This can only be done through the HOLY SPIRIT which has been compared to an inner fire that dwells within a man given over to GOD, the consuming fire. People even relate love to fire, we have just forgotten the nature of that fire.


If we allow the fire to work in us we will love more and lift the ban, the ban on the FIREWORKS.

I USED TO DATE HER...

I USED TO LOVE HER, CHASE HER, DATE HER...

I USED TO THINK SHE'D MADE ME A MAN, BUT SHE WAS A RAPER

RAPING ME OF MY DIGNITY AND MORAL SANITY

INSECURITY RAN RAMPANTLY, ARM AND ARM WITH MY VANITY

I SPEAK CANDIDLY OF MY LIFE OF LUST...UNDERHANDEDLY

I TRIED TO PLEAD INSANITY, BUT NO EXCUSE FOR MY HUMANITY....

NO MORE OF THAT, I AM RUNNING NOW.

Do you mean the "means by which you effect?"

Serving or Self-serving

in·stru·ment

[in-struh-muhnt]

–noun  

1.  a mechanical tool or implement, especially one used for delicate or precision work: surgical instruments.

2.  a contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds: a stringed instrument.

3.  a means by which something is effected or done; agency: an instrument of government.

We are all INSTRUMENTS.  There is a good and a bad, a black and a white, a wrong and a right; in everything we do.  Even the best of people can do things that affect those around them negatively, just as the worst can do deeds that have a positive affect on others.  

Even above both of these examples is the moral truth of good and evil.  

One way or another you are a tool of one of those, even if you think you are keeping to yourself and not bothering anyone.  Usually we get so caught up in the happenings of our lives that we become Instruments of SIN. (Romans 6:13- Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness....)  

When we are dealing with our students, or those with whom we have friendships (or more), or those we work with...lets be MORE MINDFUL of how we affect those around us.

LOVE THE KIDS

 If you ever had the opportunity to peruse the records of any one of the schools in here in the US you will see kids labeled as "At Risk" on their attendance records.  Some schools have disproportionately more amounts of students than others, but they are all over the place.  Many of your kids are "at risk" in America, especially minorities.  According to the US census, besides obvious mental and physical disabilities that may severely impede a students ability to succeed in life, there are other outside factors that also bring about this distinction;

At-risk conditions may come from sources other than the individual themselves. For example, institutions and social context may also bring risk conditions with them. In addition to these three personal conditions in the October CPS, we are able to identify four other 'familial' conditions that may define risk for the child. These are identified as: the absence of either or both parents from the household the child resides in; at least one foreign-born parent of recent immigration; low family income; and the absence of any employed parent or guardian in the household.

 Is this the correct way to look at the situation?  Maybe, the problem is real, so many of your kids ARE at risk, but what are they as risk of?  Expectations.  

THERE IS A STORY OF TWO PEOPLE WHO WHERE GIVEN A TASK OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THEMSELVES, THERE FAMILY, AND OTHERS CLOSE TO THEM WHOM THEY CARE ABOUT.  ONE SAYS THAT HE CAN DO IT, THE OTHER SAYS HE CAN'T DO IT. WHO IS CORRECT? 

I will return to that example soon.  When it comes to our kids, we tend to label them good or bad when we should but just labeling there actions as good or bad.  The biggest issue in the school system is not the budget, but the tendency to chart a course for students before they have a true chance to prove themselves.  We assume students are "At Risk" and treat them that way, bringing about self fulfilling prophesy, or for a select few, they are assumed "Advanced" and treated as such.  In the end the students labeled at risk are worse off and those labeled otherwise are better off.  I just want you to realize that our kids are who we train them to be, if you train up a child in the way they should go, they will not stray too far.  This starts at the home, where a parent will not allow their child to be labeled anything derogatory nor would they settle for less than their child's best.  Expectation, especially expectations that we reinforce with your lives...breed successful kids that become successful adults.  


Organizations like Student Venture, and Young Life seek to serve students in a way that ensures success by teaching them to how they can become great by building a  real relationship with God.  Have you ever considered how you too can help those kids labeled "AT RISK?"

 BY THE WAY, WHICH OF THE TWO PEOPLE WERE CORRECT?  BOTH.