This is my precious granddaughter. I vacillate from sadness to anger when I think of the fact that people, even some people with whom I went to school and grew up, expect me to honor and respect a culture and heritage that would allow her to be…
Snatched from her bed and sold away to strangers.😥
Have her father, mother or me sold away from her never to be seen again…😡
Beaten for no reason, and I would be powerless to do anything about it…😢
Raped once she became of age or even before if her ‘master’ wished…😡
Talked to any type of way, while I had to stand and watch….😢
Daily be made to feel less than human.😡
So many people want to keep Confederate statues, monuments, and flags in prominent, public places that are supported by everyone’s tax dollars, including millions of people who equate those symbols to…
Nazi Swastikas…
Statues of German stormtroopers…
A statue of a Hitler…
A monument to Osama Bin Ladin…
A statue of Benedict Arnold…
A monument to King George III.
You get the picture. You don’t see any of those symbols for a reason.
If you want those monuments, statues, and flags on your shirt, car, truck, property…that’s your right.
If you want to teach your children your perspective of history…that’s your business.
But, it is absurd to expect me or any other Black person to continue seeing those reminders on public property because it’s ‘your heritage’.
The very fact that the South claimed to have been fighting against Northern aggression proves that if the were me, and I were them, they wouldn’t go for it either.
Even the word of God says…
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, (A)whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophets.
I must admit when I hear people whining about their sinful, unGodly heritage, and look at my granddaughter…I think, #!%* YOUR HERITAGE!
But, then the Holy Spirit reminds me to pray for them. He reminds me I must love them.❤️
From the Supremes to SWV, to Destiny’s Child, there’s something about a group of female vocalists or ‘girl group’ who focus on real harmony that makes you feel good.
Beautiful smiles… Beautiful voices… Dedication to their craft, you can hear the hours of rehearsal in each note.
Here’s Mechelle Johnson and Natural Elegance covering a couple of R&B classics at Hard Rock Cafe in Memphis TN.
Have you ever noticed in Matthew Chapter 23 that the religious leaders told Yeshua, Jesus, that if they had lived in the past they would not have mistreated and killed the prophets as their ancestors did?
Many people do the same thing today. They point a self-righteous finger at the Scribes, Pharisees, Chief Priests, those who shouted CRUCIFY HIM, those who worshipped the golden calf, those who bowed to Nebuchadnezzar’s idol God, and so on. People prove on which side of history they would have stood in the past by their attitudes, actions, and behavior today.
Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ, sharply rebuked the religious leaders (the system) because they claimed if they had lived in the past, they would not have participated in killing the prophets as their ancestors did. He told them that they SHARED IN THE GUILT OF THEIR ANCESTORS because of their attitudes and actions TODAY…
Matthew 23:29-32 (NKJV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and[a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
Matthew 23:29-32 (NIV)
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started!
People today claim they would have gone into the fiery furnace with the Hebrew slave boys, or lions’ den with Daniel, but prove they wouldn’t because they won’t take a stand for God at work, or conform to a sinful culture because they don’t want to lose their job.
People today claim they would have fled Sodom and Gomorrah with Lot, but prove they wouldn’t have because they support gay marriage and the gay lifestyle, when Yeshua clearly affirms that marriage is between a man and woman in Matthew Chapter 19 verses 3-9.
People today claim they wouldn’t have participated in worshipping a graven image or calling out the name of an idol, but they prove they would have by blasphemously calling a day to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior by the name of a pagan goddess (Easter, Eostre, Ishtar, Ashtoreth).
Exodus 23:13 (NKJV)
13 “And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.
People today prove where they would have stood during the American Civil Rights Movement…
People today prove if they would have considered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be a great man or a trouble maker…
People today prove if they would consider the peaceful protests to be a means to change or a nuisance…
People today prove whether they would have supported a system of slavery or against it by how they hold on to the symbols and paradigms of a sinful heritage of oppression, rape and separation of families because they feel it honors their ancestors.
People today prove whether they would have placed ‘traditions of man’ over the word of God (flags, statues, monunents, hazing, etc…
Matthew 15:1-8 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying,‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother,“Whatever profit you might have received from me isa gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the[b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
How you respond to the teachings of Yeshua the Messiah today proves how you would have stood back then…
People today prove whether they would have shouted HOSANNA or CRUCIFY Him!
Have you ever noticed how a negative person can sap the energy out of a room? Have you ever noticed how negativity can steal the joy from a moment? Have you ever noticed how a person who complains can convince a person who is completely content and satisfied to be unhappy?
This is why God hates pessimism. This is why God hates negativity. This is why God hates complaining…7 REASONS GOD HATES COMPLAINING…
Remember that God had promised Israel victory, but they had to go in and claim the Promised Land that He had committed to giving them. As they travelled in the wilderness, Moses sent out spies to ‘check out the land’. To make a long story short, Joshua and Caleb brought back positive news in the form of a good report. However, the other spies brought back negative news and pessimism in the form of a ‘bad report’…
Numbers 13:21-33 (NKJV)
21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near the entrance of Hamath. 22 And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 Then they came to the [a]Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of [b]Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there. 25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
26 Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly [c]flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.”
30 Then Caleb quieted thepeople before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the [d]giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like[e] grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Numbers 14:1-4 (NKJV)
14 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the Lord brought us to this land to [a]fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
This pessimism and negativity pissed off the God of our Salvation because it discouraged the people! It pissed Him off A LOT!
Numbers 14:11-25 (NKJV)
11 Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject[a] Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the [b]signs which I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”
13 And Moses said to the Lord: “Then the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from among them, 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that You, Lord, are among these people; that You, Lord, are seen face to face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if You kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying, 16 ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ 17 And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, 18 ‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’ 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”
20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word; 21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— 22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice, 23 they certainly shall not see the landof which I [c]swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. 25 Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.”
How many times have you negatively influenced someone who was perfectly content? How many times have you spread the contagious spirit of negativity?
God gets just as angry now as He did then. As a matter of fact, His extreme judgments in the Old Testament are recorded for us as examples of how angry pessimism, negativity and complaining makes Him…
1 Corinthians 10:1-10 (NKJV)
10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us [a]tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
As much as we are working hard to prevent the spread of contagious diseases, please make sure that you aren’t responsible for contributing to the pandemic of pessimism.
As you know banners, in the Bible standards or flags were set up to distinguish tribes. There is no record of ‘pledges’, but they were used during battle to give troops encouragement and a focal point.
Numbers 1:52 (NKJV)
52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies;
When God is our victory banner (Yehovah Nissi) He is our encouragement and focal point from one victory to another.
Psalm 20:5 (NKJV)
5 We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
Thus, our allegiance isn’t to a piece of cloth (which can become an idol), but to our God, our Elohim, the Father of our Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
After God gave Moses victory over the Amelakites he built an alter and called it , Yehovah Nissi (The Lord is my Banner).
Exodus 17:15 (NJKV)
And Moses built an altar and called its name, [a]The-Lord-Is-My-Banner;
Whenever you need encouragement, or to rally people together for a Godly cause, call on the symbolic name of God that specifically refers to that aspect of His character…and always let your first allegiance be to Him.
I’m pretty sure that many people will ‘turn up their nose‘ at this article, but if it touches one person’s heart or convinces them to even consider adjusting their perspective and lead to repentance , then to God be the glory.
In the throes of the current worldwide movement for social justice, many white Americans say with pride , I’M NOT GIVING IN TO WHITE GUILT!
Many say, I NEVER OWNED SLAVES!
Others say, I WAS BORN POOR AND WORKED HARD FOR EVERYTHING I HAVE!
And some say, I HAVE NEVER BENEFITED FROM ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’.
Others assert, I’M NOT RACIST, I HAVE BLACK FRIENDS, SO WHY SHOULD I FEEL GUILTY?
I’m asking everyone who respects the Bible as the Word of God to consider this…
It is undeniable that in our nation’s history there wasn’t a hint of equality or equity for non-white Americans until the late 60’s.
Even if you had nothing to do with any of the evils towards Black people through the generations, God still expects His people to renounce and repent of the sins of their fathers because the fruit, legacies and benefits of their behavior and systems transcends generations…culturally, economically, socially psychologically, and spiritually. Narratives and paradigms are set.
When you read the entire bible in context, the only way subsequent generations are not liable for the sins of their fathers is when they repent of them. Any sin that hasn’t been forsaken, renounced, regretted, and repented of remains.
That’s why God continued to demand that Israel verbally and publicly reject the sins of their fathers…
Leviticus 26:40-43 (ESV)
40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
Isaiah 65:6-7 (NKJV)
6 “Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay— Even repay into their bosom— 7 Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” Says the Lord, “Who have burned incense on the mountains And blasphemed Me on the hills; Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”
Lamentations 5:7 (NKJV)
7 (A)Our fathers sinned and are no more, But we bear their iniquities.
But here is the New Testament example from Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus the Christ Himself.
Many times we prove where we would have stood if we lived in the past by our attitude and pride today…
Matthew 23:29-32 (NKJV)
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and[a]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
The very pride and arrogance to state, I’M NOT BOWING DOWN TO WHITE GUILT is a witness against anyone who says it. They still maintain the same pride (which God forbids), the same attitudes of their ancestors who were guilty.
It proves that they reject these teachings…
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, (A)whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophets.
Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
3 (A)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but (B)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Romans 15:1 (KJV)
15 We then that are strong (ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Romans Chapter 15 and verse 1 can be applied on a personal or corporate level, that is ‘the strong (strength meaning majority with greater influence) must bear the infirmities of the weak (weak meaning minority with lesser influence). The majority bears a moral responsibility to equity for the minorities.
So for those of you who love God through Jesus Christ, what if the feeling of WHITE GUILT is the Holy Spirit giving you the opportunity to renounce the sins of your fathers? And, what if the compulsion to resist it is the devil trying to convince you to resist the Holy Spirit through pride?
As I said earlier, I expect most people to reject this reasoning, but if I’m in line with God’s truth, and if God is using the current course of events for His will….If He is behind the ‘cancel’ culture for His purpose…Do you want to be guilty of fighting God?
Let’s say you have three adult children, two with blond hair and one with brown hair, and the child with brown hair feels you have been treating the other two (the majority) better than him or her.
The brown haired child knows your hair is blonde too and feels the favoritism is based on hair color.
You admit to yourself that you love all your children, but know in your heart you prefer blond hair. As you think back, you realize that has affected your decisions and behavior in the past.
Your child with brown hair looks in your eyes and says, “I MATTER TOO!”
If you begin to show compassion and equity to your brown haired child, does that mean the other two don’t matter?
Be honest with God in your response, and yourself.
Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)
3 (A)Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but (B)in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
With everything going on in the world today here’s :50 seconds of LOVE, PEACE, and real Harmony from my wife Mechelle Johnson & Natural Elegance covering Rene & Angela’s “Your Smile” with a beautiful a cappella ending.
This beautiful memory was ‘harmonized’ at Hard Rock Cafe Memphis in 2018.
Remember how the unclean spirit would leave King Saul every time David played beautiful music on his harp?
1 Samuel 16:23
23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play itwith his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
When you feel troubled, allow some sweet music to ‘speak’ some peace into your life.
Many people who claim to be Christian are very, very, very, very, very upset at the removal of Confederate statues and monuments that represent.
The attached video is a reminder that Israel and everyone who is a student of the word of God remembers the history in the bible without one statue.
Please watch with a spiritual mind and think about it.
Exodus 20:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor [a]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting[b] the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
And remember, and image DOES NOT have to be associated with a pagan god or goddess to be considered and idol. Notice what the bible teaches us in Colossians Chapter 3 verse 5…
Colossians 3:5 (NKJV)
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and COVETOUSNESS, WHICH IS IDOLATRY.
And by the way, full-frontal nudity statue of David was not ordained by God. Michelangelo’s David was not ‘co-signed’ or endorsed by God.
Article 2, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution prescribes the oath of office.
From Senate.gov website:(https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Oath_Office.htm)…”The Constitution contains an oath of office only for the president. For other officials, including members of Congress, that document specifies only that they “shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation to support this constitution.” In 1789, the First Congress reworked this requirement into a simple fourteen-word oath: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.””
George Washington was the first President to take his oath of office by swearing on the bible. Since then, each President has done the same. It’s become a respected tradition. It has also become a tradition that all elected officials to swear (or affirm) before they take office, and for citizens to do the same before they testify in court.
There is only one problem with that…
God has VERY CLEARLY FORBIDDEN taking oaths! He FORBIDS swearing.
Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV)
34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’sthrone; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let [a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
James 5:12 (NKJV)
12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [a]judgment.
You can’t get more clear than that!
So, why do people who claim to believe in God feel it is okay to swear or take an oath when God said DO NOT DO IT?
Why do people feel it is okay to swear or take an oath with their hand on the same bible that forbids it?
The Constitution is an important document, and I have high respect for it, but it is by no means a perfect document. That’s why it’s a living document and needs to be changed as we learn and grow. Unfortunately, many Americans are more passionate about following the Constitution to the letter even more than they are about following the bible to the letter.
The ‘founding fathers’ were great men, but they were far from perfect. They were ordained by God (Romans 13), but they were not God. Many of them who signed the Constitution also signed bills of sale for slaves with the same hand.
I’m quite certain that someone will take the previous two paragraphs out of context because what I just said offended them. If it offends you, examine yourself and what spirit is provoking you to be offended. Yeshua the Messiah also offended the religious leaders when He came to warn them about how their traditions need to change…
Matthew 15:1-9 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father [a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the [b]commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Notice what Yeshua said about oaths when He rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew Chapter 23…
Matthew 23:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [a]sanctifies the gold?
He called them fools. It makes no sense to swear on the bible. Which is greater, the cover of the bible carry more weight than the words you are speaking? Which is greater, the Bible or the words in it that make it holy? Besides, someone who doesn’t believe in God or take His word serious enough has no problem with putting their hands on the bible and telling a lie.
If we really love God, then we want to do what He said without trying to justify otherwise because we want to place our will over his…
One of the problem with many Christians is they prove by their actions that they feel the only sins that God is concerned with are homosexuality, abortion and gambling.
However, Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) has made it clear that we are to NEVER SWEAR.
I do feel it is okay to make an ‘affirmation’. I feel it is okay to say, “I affirm to support the Constitution or I affirm to tell the truth” in court. But NEVER on a bible.
But, any elected official who proclaims an ‘oath of office’ or is ‘sworn in’ begins their term with a sin.
And, anyone who swears not to tell a lie in court promises not to commit one sin by committing another one.
As we work to make the Constitution an even better document by including amendments that secure the rights of everyone, don’t you think we should change it in a way to please the God of our salvation first? And do it ASAP.
We all know that money and credit are necessary mediums of exchange to navigate this world and sustain our lives. Proper and shrewd management of these resources are what the world uses to determine ‘success’.
Yes, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10), but it also takes money to conduct business, both personal and kingdom business…
Ecclesiastes 10:18-19 (NKJV)
18 Because of laziness the [a]building decays,
And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers everything.
Acts 4:34-35 (NKJV)
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
The bible let’s us know that those who manage money well have a ‘worldly’ advantage over those who don’t…
Proverbs 22:7 N (NKJV)
7 The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Think about it, most people don’t OWN their home for years…the mortgage company does. You can still lose your home after making payments for 20 years if you fall on hard times and if it doesn’t hold its value.
However, currency of God’s Kingdom doesn’t have dollar $ign$…
Your Soul…
Your Faith…
Your Values…
The anointing of God’s Holy Spirit…
Your gifts and talents…
Your character…
Sincere, Unconditional Love…
I call these ‘Tangible Intangibles” that are priceless. These are true riches.
Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
1 Corinthians 13 (NKJV)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift ofprophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Some people are very shrewd with money and their credit. They are very careful to not make any mistakes…they protect their money and protect their credit. Others are more careless or have fallen victim to unfortunate circumstances.
So, here’s my 1st question. Which person are you?
Here’s my second question? If you managed your soul the same way you manage your money and credit…what would it look like? How ‘healthy’ be? How ‘wealthy’ would it be?
Let us learn a lesson from those who are shrewd with worldly wealth and resources and apply that same diligence to our spiritual life.
Luke 16:8-11 (NKJV)
8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous [a]mammon, that when [b]you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who isfaithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Be careful of what’s in your heart when you decide to “KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS”.
That IS NOT what God told us to do. He told us to love our enemies.
Love’s intention is to give life, not kill.
Love’s intention is to build up, not tear down.
God says don’t seek revenge, that belongs to Him. God says don’t repay evil for evil, but instead to help your enemy.
The problem is, that many of us choose to ‘kill them with kindness’, ONLY to “heap coals of fire on their heads“. Many of us are only being kind because we see heaping coals of fire on their head as just another way to get even.
If we’re honest with ourselves, we may just be showing kindness to show them up, to annoy them, to make them feel bad…if that’s the intention then we’ve totally missed God’s meaning.
Helping your enemy is an exercise in developing God’s character. It is planting seeds of love for the enemy and those who witness. It’s allowing everyone to see the power of God. The goal is overcoming evil with good. Well, what about the coals of fire on their head? That’s just the end result of how acts of kindness affect an enemy…it’s a result, not an intent.
The goal is REPENTANCE AND RECONCILIATION. Remember, ‘kill them with kindness’ is catchy, but not of God.
Romans 12:19-21
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[a] says the Lord. 20 Therefore, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
My ‘rant’ on the Confederate flag and monument debate: I feel there is a level of arrogance (even if unintentional) to expect Black people in America to respect any symbol that TO THEM represents:
Bondage,
Oppression,
Rape,
Separation of families,
Humiliation,
Beatings,
No rights,
Degradation,
Not being regarded as human…
I could go on describing what American slavery was.
The Confederacy also represented those who were willing to die to maintain that way of life.
In fact, the rebel flag is just as painful to many Blacks as the Nazi swastika is to Jews. It represents the first acts of terrorism in this country.
The Confederacy made war against the United State. They fought against and disrespected the same flag that many people criticize Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protest as disrespectful as if their cause was more noble. As if they determine what constitutes a proper source protest. How arrogant!
It was treason.
Heritage not Hate?
History lesson?
How can you expect me to celebrate that heritage?
Seriously?
I know the Civil War (War of Northern Aggression)was about states rights, but any fool knows it was primarily the right to own slaves.
So here it is…
Would you honor a symbol that represents misery to your great, great grandparents?
Every culture has aspects of their heritage/history that should be remembered, but not celebrated.
If you want a rebel flag on your car, home, clothing or personal property that’s your right, but it has no place on a government property than does a swatika.
We all have to learn to disagree without insults or becoming enemies.
This post is to provoke thought from another perspective…not insults. God’s love to all if you!
Matthew 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, (A)whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for (B)this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 15:1-3 (NKJV)
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Yeshua pissed off the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees for threatening their traditions. God constantly rebuked Israel for not forsaking the sins of their fathers.
Idols are coming down all across the United States. But, that’s not the first time this has happened. In biblical Israel, when a ‘good’ king followed an evil king, one of the first things they did was tore down the idols that had been set up in the land, such as King Josiah…
2 Chronicles 34:1-7 (NKJV)
34 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
3 For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the [a]high places, the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images. 4 They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars which were above them he cut down; and the wooden images, the carved images, and the molded images he broke in pieces, and made dust of them and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5 He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem. 6 And so he did in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali and all around, with [b]axes. 7 When he had broken down the altars and the wooden images, had beaten the carved images into powder, and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.
Statues are usually set up to honor heroes of the past. To glorify the image of men and women who have left their mark on the world.
There’s only one problem with that…
GOD SAID DON’T MAKE GRAVEN IMAGES…PERIOD!
Exodus 20:4-5 (NKJV)
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor [a]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting[b] the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Notice that verse 4 says DON’T MAKE THEM, then verse 5 says don’t worship them.
God said this because He knows His people.
He knows that what was initially done to show RESPECT can morph into REVERENCE. He knows the level of devotion that people feel for some of these statues turns into a form of worship, especially when other people don’t feel the same way about them.
Think about it. How many statues did Israel set up of God? How many statues were set up of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David? NONE!
The fact is, the statues of Yeshua (Jesus) or even ‘saints’ that have been cast should have never been created. God forbade it.
I saw this foolish image on social media not too long ago…
Remember in the Book of Acts when the establishment was pissed off because the disciples were threatening their traditions, just as Yeshua did? A well-respected Pharisee spoke up and told the Jews that even though they didn’t like what was going on, or how it was being done, if it’s God’s will…fighting against it was fighting God!
Acts 5:34-39 (NKJV)
34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [a]take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, [b]joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
So, even if you don’t like what’s going on, or the way it’s being done…if it’s from God, do you want to be guilty of fighting God?
If someone reads this and their mind immediately tries to justify graven images in spite of what it says in His word, well they are trying to make God submit to their will, rather than submitting to His.
Oh, and let me address the most common rebuttal. For those who say the statues aren’t associated with a pagan god…they don’t have to do so to be an idol. It’s the place, priority and reverence we give them in our hearts that makes them idols. Even Colossians 3:15 proves that by saying “Covetousness is idolatry.” Verse 4 just forbids making them of stone. This is why Israel never had statues of anyone in the Bible. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Christians must stop doing what they want to do, and then justifying it.
Even Colossians 3:15 teaches us that covetousness IS IDOLATRY.
This is a message of encouragement and accountability for my fellow disciples of Jesus Christ, who I love referring to as Yeshua the Messiah.
He gave us an awesome Kingdom parable of “The Wheat and the Tares”, or in other words…WEEDS.
Matthew 13:24-26 (NKJV)
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
I stopped at verse 26 on purpose. We can learn a few powerful lessons from the WEEDS in this scripture. Lessons that help those in the Kingdom of God be more effective in Kingdom building and pleasing the God of our creation.
If we watch them, we can learn a lot from weeds…
WEEDS THRIVE WHEN PLANTED WHERE THEY AREN’T WANTED…
Whether it be a a garden, a yard or a field, few things are more frustrating than seeing WEEDS pop up. Nobody wants them there. That garden, yard or field has been set aside for chosen flowers, grass, crops…not the WEEDS. In the parable is says an enemy sowed the WEEDS there for a reason. If you notice the WEEDS sometimes thrive much better than the desired plants.
They grow faster, taller, can be more numerous and eventually try to choke the flowers, grass, or crops.
God plants us in the ‘gardens’, ‘yards’ and ‘fields’s of His choice. Many times we aren’t wanted there. And, unfortunately many times we don’t want to be there. Too many disciples want a ministry of convenience and comfort. God didn’t promise that. All you have to do is read either the Old or New Testament to confirm that. Many of those chosen by God didn’t choose their field or even ‘apply for the job’.
We in the Body of Christ need to learn to THRIVE where we are planted by God.
WEEDS ARE EXTREMELY RESILIENT
The interesting thing about WEEDS is that when you pull them up, they come back stronger. It doesn’t take much sometimes for those of us in the Body of Christ to just stop and give up when we find out we aren’t wanted, if we’re outnumbered, or if things become too difficult or challenging.
We need to be more like WEEDS. If we aren’t wanted…SO WHAT! If they try and pull us up… WE COME BACK STRONGER!
‘WEED’ PROVOKES PASSION
Now I’m talking about the other kind of ‘WEED’. I’m talking about cannibus, pot, chronic, Mary Jane, dope, etc.,
Those who are proponents of WEED are very passionate about fighting for it. They’re passionate about letting the world know what they see as the benefits of it. They are passionate about getting it accepted, but if no one else accepts it, you won’t convince them to abandon it.
This is the passion that we in the Body of Christ need to have for God through our Lord and Savior Yeshua! To let the world know the benefits of a real relationship with Him. To get others to accept Him, and even if they don’t, nothing can turn us away.
God created everything for a reason. He created everything for His purpose. We can learn from those things that we consider to be ‘dishonorable’…even WEEDS…even ‘WEED’.
How many times have you told God you were sorry only to go back and do the same thing over and over again?
How many times did Israel cry out for God to rescue them, only to return to the same behavior again?
Yes, apologies are sometimes sincere, but many times they are are response to the consequences of our behavior. Apologies can even be a tool of manipulation to make the person we hurt feel better, and sometimes to make ourselves feel better.
If you read your bible carefully, God never asks for an apology, but He demands repentance…
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV)
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
It’s turning from our behavior and doing everything we can to not do it again. That’s why when someone has done something to hurt you and never apologized, but they haven’t done it again, you have gotten something better than an apology….you’ve gotten repentance.
‘Social distancing has become the ‘buzzword’ of 2020 (or biblical year 5780). Everyone around the world knows that means keeping a distance of at least 6 feet from one another while in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. From COVID-19, to worldwide protests against racism and social injustice, to a layer of dust traveling across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa, now is not the time to practice ‘SPIRITUAL DISTANCING’ from God.
It’s amazing how many people who claim to be disciples of Yeshua the Messiah allow their pride (national, racial, family or personal), prejudice, arrogance, opinion, personal theology, dedication to traditions or flesh come between themselves and God.
Do we expect a faith of comfort and convenience or are we willing to ‘get our hands dirty’. Are we showing true love for Christ through our genuine concern and real effort to help those He called ‘the least of them’ (Matthew 25:31-45)?
Yes, they claim to know Him, but their actions prove that just like the Pharisees, they are putting their perspective, desires and expectations before God’s.
SOME ‘CHRISTIANS’ USE RELIGION AS A TOOL FOR THEIR OWN AGENDA
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for this behavior by quoting what God, our Elohim, told us through the prophet Isaiah…
Matthew 15:8-9 (NKJV)
8 ‘These people [a]draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
It’s easy to point a ‘self-righteous finger’ at Peter by following Yeshua from a distance, but if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves doing the same thing.
Matthew 26:58 (NKJV)
58 But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
Too many Christians are unintentionally guilty of expecting God to worship their expectations, traditions, hopes, dreams, opinions and personal theology.
Look very closely at how Yeshua rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.
Matthew 23 (NKJV)
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you [a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the [b]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One isyour [c]Teacher, [d]the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be [e]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be [f]exalted.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [g]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [h]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that [i]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [j]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who [k]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [m]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.33 Serpents, brood[n] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Notice how He harshly rebuked them for putting their traditions before God’s word.
7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
Mark 7:7-8 (NKJV)
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
Remember this is not Jesus rebuking ‘sinners’ but those who claim to be believers!
To the many Americans who are afraid of losing their ‘freedoms’ and blaming it on sinners, let me remind you that Jesus was holding the religious accountable for their ‘SPIRITUAL DISTANCING’ (dedication to traditions and hypocrisy) as He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.
Not the Romans…
Not the ‘sinners’ in the land…
But, the people ‘of faith’.
To the many Americans who are afraid of ‘socialism’ let me remind you that God, Yah, Adonai, our Elohim, held Israel accountable throughout the Old Testament for their ‘SPIRITUAL DISTANCING’ (spiritual adultery, compromise and assimilation) as His prophets predicted Israel and Judah loosing their nation and being taken away to Babylon.
Not the pagans…
Not the heathen…
Not the ‘sinners’ in the land…
But, HIS people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
So, let us all examine ourselves…our motives…our reactions…our passions…our devotions and ask ourselves are they in line with the word of God. When something makes us angry, is it Godly anger for Godly change, or is it the enemy trying to manipulate us through our flesh?
Let us make sure that we in the Body of Christ, aren’t SPIRITUAL DISTANCING, by following Him from a distance.
Unfortunately Father’s Day is a sad day for some fathers because their child or children didn’t acknowledge them or took them for granted.
It could be because the father made mistakes.
It could be because the child is estranged and holding animosity in his or her heart.
It could be the father is very stern.
It could be the child is spoiled and the father just isn’t appreciated.
The father watched his phone all day long, but no call. He walked around his house all day long, waiting to hear those words, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, but they were never spoken.
No matter what the reason, I know it hurts but let me hopefully comfort you with a quick reminder…
God has created countless children in His image who never acknowledge Him.
Even SOME of those children who acknowledge Him only use Him.
SOME only talk to Him when they want something. They may often complain about what He provides.
SOME walk on His earth (His house) full of evidence He lives, they breathe His air, eat His food, receive light from His sun ( and Son) yet claim He doesn’t exists.
But, God still has mercy on them and shows them kindness and love.
So, if you have a child who is not showing you love on Father’s Day, or any other day, think about the way God the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ feels.
Then stop and ask yourself are you showing God the love He deserves.
Finally, make up your mind to be a the minister of reconciliation He has called us to be, and work hard to reconcile as many of God’s children back to Him.
Maybe, God will do the same for you.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20
18 Now all things are of God, (A)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that (B)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not [a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are (C)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
Yesterday I was watching my son hold his daughter as she fell asleep on him, and it filled my heart with love and joy.
I walked over and kissed her, then kissed him on top of His head.
It’s a shame that our Western culture has reduced strength and masculinity to fighting, aggression, retaliation, insults and a hard heart.
This is not just because of deadbeat dads, or absent fathers, but by ‘good’ fathers raising their sons with the expectation that men should be hard, and anything other than that is weakness.
But, that’s not how God loves us.
HERE’S 3 REASONS FATHERS SHOULD KISS THEIR SONS TOO
1. IT’S A PICTURE OF HOW GOD LOVES US
When the prodigal or wasteful son finally returned home, his father could care less about how his son had put him to open shame. He ran to meet his son and kissed him on the neck. This represents God’s unconditional and unfailing love for us. It gives us a picture of how our strong and ALL-POWERFUL God, can be gentle and kind enough to ‘kiss’ his children. It gives us an example that there is nothing weak, feminine, or ‘weird’ about a father kissing his adult son.
LUKE 15:20 (NKJV)
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But(A)when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
2. IT DEMONSTRATES THAT REAL LOVE IS NOT JUST EROTIC
Too many young men grow up thinking that you prove your manhood by being promiscuous. They learn to brag about their intimate encounters that are meant by God to only be between husband and wife (male and female). They learn a perverted view of real love and affection. When a father kisses his son, it teaches him that a kiss isn’t just a tool to get to a woman’s ‘goodies’, but a real, gentle expression of Godly love. It teaches them a kiss can be Holy.
1 Corinthians 16:20 (NKJV)
20 All the brethren greet you.
3. IT TEACHES ALL STRENGTH ISN’T AGGRESSION
Our society today is impressed with what they have been taught is strength. But, God teaches us that evidence, or Fruit, of His Spirit is behavior that many people in the world today consider to be weakness.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Notice that kindness and gentleness are proof that God lives inside of us through our Lord and Savior Yeshua the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God gives us an example of this with the Prodigal Son’s father. A gentle kiss from his father let him and everyone watching know how much he still loved his adult son.
It is our responsibility as fathers to let our sons know we love them as God loves us, and showing that love does not diminish their strength or masculinity.
Daddies shouldn’t only just kiss their daughters, but their sons too.
Anyone who reads my writing knows I love to clarify anything that can be misunderstood or twisted. Anyone who has read my writing or watched any of our #SONdayBlessing videos knows I love, cherish, respect and honor my wife. I consider us to be equals in our marriage and I am fully aware of God telling us in 1 Peter that we are to honor our wives, and not doing so can hinder our prayers…
1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
I am fully aware and happily accept the husband’s responsibility to love our wives as Christ loves the church. This is the sacrificial love that’s is defined in Ephesians…
Ephesians 5:25-29 (NKJV)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
That being said, now let us consider what the word of God says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11…
1 Corinthians 11:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.
I feel that each husband should treat his wife as if she is his QUEEN, and vice versa. However, anyone who believes the bible is the word of God knows what God said before He created woman…
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
God created man to be the head. But, as my father-in-law Pastor Lonnie Black has said for years…
“God created man to be the head and not the headache.” Pastor Lonnie Black
We live in a society today that more and more behaves as if man was created for woman than woman for man. That the husband is to submit to his wife, rather than woman submit to her husband.
We live in a society today where the husband is expected to ‘answer to his wife’…to go out of his way to make her happy…to work himself to the bone in order to get her whatever she wants…to submit to her when there is a disagreement…that if a woman allows her husband to ‘tell her what to do’ she is being weak. And, that if a husband isn’t giving his wife everything she desires, he is less than a husband.
Television, film, music and especially reality shows and social media support this (Think of all the “HOUSEWIVES” shows…there’s one to target various cultures). It’s art imitating life and art further shaping behavior and the narrative of male/female relationships.
In a sense, we have made our QUEENS…KINGS.
Marriage is not 50/50, it’s 100/100. It’s woman submitting to her husband’s authority in the home and enjoying his covering and protection. But, at the same time, marriage is the husband not abusing his authority, and considering his wife as an equal in all decisions. However, when decisions are made in the home, God will hold the husband (head) accountable…especially in regard to worship being established.
If you haven’t already, step back and take a look at what’s on television, movies and social media. Listen to much of the popular music these days. Listen to many of the conversations. Many people have gone beyond treating wives like QUEENS, to making them KINGS.
Husbands and wives…let’s be good to one another. Let’s love, trust, honor and support one another, but let’s not forget God’s order.
Am I missing something, or is this blatant hypocrisy?
Matthew 23:13-36 (NKJV)
13 “But (A)woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.14 [a]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!(B)For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [b]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, (C)blind guides, who say,(D)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (E)or the temple that [c]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (F)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [d]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (G)Him who [e]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (H)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!(I)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and (J)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!(K)For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [f]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!(L)For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (M)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [g]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that (N)you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (O)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.33 Serpents, (P)brood[h] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?34 (Q)Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: (R)some of them you will kill and crucify, and (S)some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,35 (T)that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, (U)from the blood of righteous Abel to (V)the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
For those of you who don’t know, Juneteenth, marks the day when U.S. troops arrived in Galveston TX in 1865 to ensure that all enslaved people be freed by taking control of the state. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
However, most people have never heard of it.
Why?
Because it hasn’t been a part of the national narrative.
Why?
Because it wasn’t important enough to be a part of our nation’s story. Our history. So, that means no recognition in the history books, no days off work, no fireworks.
Why?
Because if the freedom of those who were slaves was important as the freedom of the colonists from their ‘oppressors’ it would have been a part of our history, celebrated by all races and not just those of African descent.
On July 4th, 1776, Black people in America had no independence. It wasn’t for them. Those inalienable rights were written into the Constitution by hands that also signed bills of sale for slaves. Can you imagine slaves overhearing their oppressors celebrating their ‘freedom’ from their oppressors?
So, when the end of slavery was officially enforced on June 19, 1865, it should have been celebrated by everyone who considered themselves to be a child of God, because as the Constitution states, those inalienable rights were granted by the Creator, The Lord God of Israel from Eternity Past to Eternity Future, through His Son, the Lamb of God Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
Happy Juneteenth America! Let the fireworks begin!
Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)
28 There is neither Jewnor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 8:31-32(NKJV)
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If youabide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.32 And you shall know thetruth, andthe truth shall make you free.”
Acts 11:26(NKJV)
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
I’ve noticed a few insults that have become popular on social media, especially in regard to political and social issues. Here are two of them.
“SNOWFLAKES”
“BUTT HURT PEOPLE”
I’ve also anecdotally noticed many of these insults are hurled by many people who claim to be a part of the Body of Christ. Our Lord and Savior was clear about insults…
Matthew 5:22 (NKJV)
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother [a]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’[b] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [c]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [d]hell fire.
Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary [a]edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Here’s what I find interesting. Most of the time I’ve noticed these insults, they’re wrapped around people COMPLAINING about people COMPLAINING.
“These BUTT HURT people are trying to change history! They need to get over themselves!”
“These SNOWFLAKES are too sensitive! They need to ‘grow a pair’ and stop complaining!”
Did you catch that? Go back and read the statements again.
They are WHINING about other people WHINING.
This is a classic example of the narcissistic, self-absorbed and childish behavior that is one of the many fruit of the sin of PRIDE.
It’s amazing how it’s considered whining until it’s something that’s important to you!
So many people feel their cause, passion, heritage or culture is so much more noble.
So many people arrogantly feel they decide which protest and complaint is worthy of attention.
So many people arrogantly feel that the correct narrative about history, social issues, civil rights issues, and even issues of faith are determined through the lens of their perspective.
These people are proving themselves to be the very SNOWFLAKES and BUTT HURT people they are accusing others to be.
We can all benefit by praying that God help us to guard our tongues and to help us to know when to speak and when to be silent.
Proverbs 21:23 (NKJV)
23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
James 3:1-12 (NKJV)
3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a [a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 [b]Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [d]nature; and it is set on fire by [e]hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the [f]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? [g]Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Matthew 12:36-37 (NKJV)
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
BE BLESSTIFIED! 