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The Children Are Not Alright But We Can Make It Right

By on September 22, 2011 in Faith, health, Society

See, it’s not just Americans who think every child having a mother and a father is the best for children and society. Even Europe where everything goes has its bulwarks against the insanity of s of families that are proliferating world-wide.

Speaking to London’s Sunday Times recently, Scottish business owner Brian Souter says Scotland is in danger of becoming a “Babylonian-Greek society” where sex is “primarily a recreational activity”. He said: “We are arguing here about what kind of society we want to live in. Are we going to be in a Babylonian-Greek-type of society, where sex is primarily a recreational activity, or are we going to stick with the Judeo-Christian tradition, where procreation is something that we want to put within a marriage context?”

His arguments for the latter are to protect society from “imploding” as he puts it. Couldn’t have said it better myself. His remarks were partly in response to the gay-marriage debates in Europe but he could use Black America as a case study on where the Babylonian-Greek lifestyle in all it’s incarnations will actually take a country.

I haven’t lost hope but as far as I’m concerned the African American community has already imploded with a nearly 73% out-of-wedlock birthrate. THIS IS UNHEARD OF!!! and it is patently unfair for any Black child suffering under such a situation. Souter must be looking at American society really close because Black people have gone way beyond reducing sex to a recreational activity. The ramifications of this fact are on public display with the detrimental behaviors of the progeny of this years-long trend. The obvious illustrations including the tacky dress habits and increasingly vocabulary-limited vulgarity in the music (and that’s just the current crop of young parents I’m talking about, not only their kids) continue to proliferate. Of peculiar interest is observing the natural course of cultural transmission with so many white kids picking up some of the sorry, saggy habits. Particularly disturbing is the growing tendency for young teen and adult females to emulate these things.

The verbal pollution from young people’s mouths has become appalling. Yes, that is also connected to particular family groupings and what is taught as acceptable language and self-respecting behavior. It’s unbelievable that so many young women in this generation allow young men to call them “bitch” and they don’t get offended. In fact it has become the new “nigger”. Some of these girls just take it from a guy like it’s their name and allow the conversation to continue as normal like there’s nothing to it. The girls from my generation would have checked that madness immediately. I’m telling you, the new bad normal is pulling us down collectively.

The backwards trend is backed by any number of statistics. According to the Pew Research Center, “The share of 30- to 44-year-olds living as unmarried couples has more than doubled since the mid-1990s.”so there really is no mystery to the genesis of these particular societal ills.

Despite the ongoing marginalization of those of us who believe in traditional views of proper family structure, I think the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) does a great job in doing what’s in the best interests of children. With more efforts like theirs perhaps we still have a chance. Yeah, more Black kids with a mother and a father raising them without some of  society’s deranged cultural activists using our children as social experiments is what’s actually in the best interests of the African American community.

As an “actionist” I try not to whine about a problem but actually do something about it. I am a traditionalist who believes every child deserves a mother and a father who are in fact a man and a woman. That’s not a political statement of social warfare. That’s a fact of our cultural welfare.

I could write extensively about my beliefs on one way of living versus the other but NOM has already done a significant job of that since 2007. Are their particular efforts about gay bashing or intruding upon individual rights? Of course not. Is any of this about hating on single parenthood. Again, certainly not. You’d have to be crazy to make such kindergarten level oversimplifications. It’s about children’s rights and if you like me are tired of Black kids being sociopolitical footballs then do something about it. I’m challenging you to do what I’m doing this week. Contribute to the National Organization for Marriage and show greater support for groups like it to help turn the implosive tide.

Beyond political action though, young ladies today it’s about you in particular. Stand up for yourselves and your own well-being. Here are a few reasons that you young ladies (and you are young ladies, not bitches) valuing yourselves more benefits all of society. Before you hit the sack with a guy, make him commit to an altar bound promise to you and your future children that you will have together. Before you give up the goodies too soon make him earn it. Tell young sir, “No wedding, no womb!”.

 

 

Be sure you keep these thoughts at the top of your mind with a cool new beat from Speech. Share it with your friends and lets all turn this thing around.

 

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Love & Respect: Know Your Role

By on October 20, 2009 in Faith, General Interest

I just started reading a really great book and I think I’m going to share some nuggets with you guys from time to time. The book is “Love & Respect”, by Christian pastor Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. He’s been a pastor and marriage counselor for a number of years and he’s part of the Focus on the Family family so you already know it has to be good stuff.

The gist of the book is that wives have a strong need for love from their husbands and husbands have just as strong a need for respect from their wives. We’re reading a chapter a week in our married couples Sunday school class and having some really lively discussion by a group of dynamic teachers.

So take this verse in and digest it. Pray over it and see what you think when it comes to beginning to know your roles in a solid marriage.

Ephesians 5:33, “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (NIV).

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A Word of Joy to Keep You Through the Week

By on August 9, 2009 in Faith

Here’s an encouraging word you can tape on your dashboard or fridge door along with some matching music from Douglas Miller for your iPod.

Psalms 118:24

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Play the clip and sing along with the scrolling lyrics widget.


Unspeakable Joy

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Better Days

By on August 2, 2009 in Faith, General Interest, Music, Society, YouTube

I was thinking about my grandmother the other day and this song came to mind. Now, normally when I share a music clip on a Sunday it’s a gospel song but this one hearkens to family and heritage and for me part of that is the church tradition so I include the following song using that train of thought.

When I hear “Better Days” I can picture a little kid asking a family matriarch the exact type of little kid questions that Dianne Reaves sings about. If you reflect back on your life, don’t the lyrics make you think of some of the things that made you curious when you were much younger? Can you remember how the wise old grandma or maybe even a great grandmother would tell you in her own sweet way not to be in a rush? Didn’t sound the same way coming from your mother, did it?

Half the time it would go over your head and not register until you were a few years older. And how about the nuggets they would drop on you out of the blue when you hadn’t asked anything in particular? She just may have had the urge to share something deep with you. I remember one of those too. The life observation seemed like a completely random thought at the time and it confused me why she had made the comment, but years later after I was a young adult on my own, it clicked, “Oh, that’s what she was talking about.”

This piece always reminds me of the best grandmother who ever walked this earth. Always rest in peace, Mrs. Ella White. Love ya Grandma. This one is dedicated to you.

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No Exemptions, No Excuses

By on July 14, 2009 in Faith

This was the title of the sermon from Pastor James Meeks of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago a few Sundays ago. For those of you who are regular members of a church you know that sometimes your pastor/bishop/elder has to preach directly to their parishoners to help them get back on track. This could be for any number of reasons to get the people realigned on some spiritual or practical life matters. On this day Rev. Meeks told us visitors and telecast watchers that the “No Exemptions, No Excuses” sermon was for his people, those that call him pastor. The rest of us were welcome to take from it what we would. He had me hooked. No nonsense straight talker.

He continued by saying that there aren’t many statements that cover all the people all the time. There are exceptions to everything except this one thing, that thing being death and its eternal repercussions. He made references to the recent spate of well publicized deaths including celebrities from Farah Faucet to Michael Jackson and Ed McMahon, and the lesser known among us like the people who died in the Washington D.C. Metro train crash, and local deaths including Jada Justice and Chasity Turner here in Chicago.

These were the reference scriptures for the day (New International Version):

John 1:12 (I include verse 13 for context)
12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 3:16-18
16″For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.[b]

Romans 10:9, 13 (I include verses 10-12 for context)
9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[a] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[b]

——————–

Rev. Meeks emphasized another key point. The Christian faith teaches us that those who haven’t accepted Jesus as their personal savior will spend eternity separated from God. If you don’t agree, that’s fine but it should be the teaching of every new testament church and any church not teaching this is a cult.

The only possible exceptions to this rule are youngsters who are not able to make profession for themselves. In this case it’s just one of those mysteries of God. There are some things in His infinite wisdom that He keeps to Himself.

Other good reminder thoughts he shared are that we can’t alter the Bible to fit our own personal situations. He also referred to the thief on the cross, I believe in with respect to the timeliness of salvation.

Then he made a really good point about the fact that no preacher (or any other believer for that matter) can put anybody in heaven or hell. The Bible places our final destination squarely in God’s hands…

Hebrews 9:27
27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment

——————–

So those of you who may have a problem with it, take it up with God directly and not with the person who is trying to help you by witnessing to you.

For you believers who sometimes fall for that particular guilt trip or others that you may hear, don’t use it as an excuse to stop sharing the word. You may just have to find your own unique, effective way of doing it but saying nothing when the urge hits you isn’t an option. The reason why is that the blood of the unsaved is on our hands if we don’t make the attempt (Ezekiel 33). The key verses are 1 – 6 but I encourage you to read the entire chapter to get the full emphasis on the concept.

Next Rev. directed his attention to the under 40 crowd stating that wealth and popularity are not synonymous with peace and happiness. You can have all that and find out that it’s a nightmare. He closed his thoughts on pop culture by reminding us that Susan Boyle was in a mental home for three days after winning Brittain Has Talent. He then reminded us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Recall that His first words after the resurrection were “Peace unto you”.

I enjoyed the service overall – Salem has an outstanding choir and praise & worship team – including the sermon that wasn’t intended for us visitors. I got the message he was trying to get across so thank you kindly for the good instruction Pastor Meeks. We will definitely visit again. If you happen to be on the look out for a new church home in Chicagoland I highly recommend that you consider the Salem Baptist family. And where ever you are or where ever you may land in your search, remember what Rev. said…no exemptions, no excuses.

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My Day of Worship Aboard the Ship

By on June 22, 2009 in Faith, General Interest

The fam is continuing our visiting tour of local churches. Yesterday we attended Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church – or “The Ship” as it is affectionately known by the members – pastored by Rev. Charles Jenkins. He is a young animated preacher and he did a really good job illustrating the Bible for everyday life application.

His sermon yesterday was “Run Tell That”. His subject verses came from John 4:46-53. It’s the story of a father of a sick son near death, who heard that Jesus was in the area, asked Jesus to come see his son and whom Jesus healed from a distance – while talking to the father – without actually traveling back with the father to see the boy.

As you read the text you’ll notice how the man’s servants came to meet him and told him that his son was healed (Run Tell That). Rev. Jenkins referred to an earlier part of the chapter, verses 28 – 29, when the woman at the well went to tell the towns people about the amazing man she had never met who told her all about herself (Run Tell That). If you’re not familiar with her story start at the beginning of the chapter. The stories of the woman and the father segue in the middle of chapter 4 showing Jesus moving from one event to the other.

But getting back to the main part of the sermon, Pastor Jenkins used a series of H words to paint the picture in our minds. The boy’s father was HURT, he HEARD about Jesus and hearing of Him gave the father HOPE. The father didn’t stop there though. He was wise enough to ask for Jesus’ HELP and therefore his son was HEALED and his entire HOUSEHOLD was ultimate saved.

A couple of key points that stuck with me are (1) that we should not let our pain or our feelings keep us from hearing and (2) before we move on to the next thing we need to pause and thank Him for “this blessing”, whatever it may be at the time.

He gave us some really good supplemental scriptures to compliment the sermon including John 16:33,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 5:16,

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

and Hebrews 11:1,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

We thoroughly enjoyed the services, especially the Men’s Choir singing for Father’s Day and leading the praise and worship before the sermon. Had a good praise dance team too. I’m definitely paying attention to this dynamic place of worship. A “go back” some time soon is definitely in the plans. So where did you go to church yesterday? Tell us what we missed.

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True Confessions That Matter from Lenny Kravitz

By on June 17, 2009 in facebook, Faith, health

Hat tip to facebook friend and fellow blogger La Shawn Barber for this link on Lenny Kravitz’s mature stand on his lifestyle and moral standards.

Lenny has been celibate since 2005 and says he’s not pulling his penis out of his pants for any woman again until he finds the one he marries. Let’s hear it again for abstinence as solid moral and health policy! Lenny is sticking to the scriptural imperative, not playing around with God and doing better to live his faith day by day.

Also amazing is his father’s last minute conversion to Christianity. Demonic visions in the hospital had him confess Jesus as his savior days before he passed. Amazingly still, the visions turned angelic afterwards. Just as for the thief on the cross next to Jesus, the last minute wasn’t too late to get it right.

Really nice read into Lenny’s world. Take a few minutes to check out this amazing article by Chris Heath for yourselves and share it with your friends.

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More About Those Online and Offline Laid Off Camps

By on May 30, 2009 in Blogging, Business, facebook, Faith, LinkedIn, NING, Society, twitter, XING

Have you been following the news about various groups around the country hosting laid off or out of work camps? These are get togethers for people who have lost their jobs and are trying to get back into the job market. One of my LinkedIn groups, Out of Work Chicago, is mentioned in this Wall Street Journal post. I’ll be connecting with them when I get settled in our new digs.

This is the social networking version of a “meetup” which is common amongst us bloggers who want to meet the faces behind the posts. The economic situation has created a similar physical networking trend branched off of the virtual social networks for the jobless.

If the current crisis resembles you check out the nearest church or civic club hosting an event close to you. And of course, if you’re in a city large enough, there’s probably at least one social networking group of this type so search your LinkedIn, facebook, XING, NING and twitter groups for details relevant to your situation.

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The Submissive Wife…and the Loving Husband

By on May 24, 2009 in Faith, General Interest, Society

I love dealing with the subject of the submissive wife because it’s such a hotly contested subject. Unfortunately it is so pitifully misunderstood and misinterpreted that it’s almost comical. And it would be just that if not for the impact the ignorance of the subject has on real people and real families.

You can tell people haven’t actually studied up on it when you have personal conversations with women or hear talk shows with women calling in to say they aren’t going to subjugate or reduce themselves to being a man’s servant or men’s slaves in general. That is not the point at all and shows a historic lack of knowledge by men and women on the matter through time. So how about we give some clarity and eliminate the ignorance and unnecessary volatility on the matter?

The most commonly referred to set of scripture on the subject is the fifth chapter of Ephesians in the new testament. Guess what ladies AND gentlemen? There’s nothing lopsided about the issue. In fact there is a section in the chapter for women and an equally important section for men. They cover different aspects (notice the title of the post) but part A and part B clearly explain the duties of the husband and wife to each other – not to the world, to each other.

There is no browbeating or door mat treatment involved. Notice the loving Christlike relationship that is prescribed in the following verses. First, realize that the analogy isn’t just a prescription for a proper marriage relationship but it also illustrates our relationship with Jesus.

Verses 22 – 24 not only explains that a wife should submit herself to her OWN husband but also introduces the spiritual nature of his role. Take a read:

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

It doesn’t end there. Fellas, in turn, verse 25 continues with how we are to relate to our wives – not all women – and the verses 28 and 29 tell us why that is so.

25 Husbands, love your wives. Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

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28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishesth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.

Verse 32 shows the ultimate spiritual nature of the previous text of chapter 5 and 33 summarizes both roles.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Although we get hung up on the modern definition of submission notice that the proper scope of things to be lived in our marriage lives is to mirror the Love of the Lord, our submission to Him and our reverence of Him. That’s part of the great mystery that Paul speaks of – there’s much more to it – but we can at least keep that much in proper context.

For those of you who aren’t Christians, I encourage you to get a copy of the Holy Bible and read the chapter in it’s entirety. Don’t cheat with a Bible web page. Get the physical text in your hands as a ready reference. This way you won’t be one of those giving a false impressions about how the Bible subjugates people (you know who you are).

For my Christian friends who’ve been slacking, do the same because it is commanded of you to be Biblicaly literate . This will keep you from being a week witness. Nothing more damaging to the faith than an ineffective believer who can’t defend it with scripture. When people try to put the “judgmental”, “hypocrite”, “all religions are basically the same” Christian guilt trips and lies on you, you will be able to counter with facts.

Blessed Sunday to you all and if you get a chance, share your favorite Sunday school and sermon lessons with us later today.

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No Tweeting Or Texting In Church Please

By on April 12, 2009 in Faith

Has your pastor had to lecture the congregation about the inappropriate use of technology in church recently? I think I already know the answer to this one. Although technology has leapt forward, our public manners haven’t necessarily kept the same pace so I think now is as good a time as any to review a couple of the finer points of church etiquette for the 21st century. People, playing with your cell phones during church services really has to stop.

This may truly be new info for those of you who don’t have a family history of church attendance so I’ll give you guys the benefit of the doubt – for a minute. I suppose it’s possible that you simply may not know that there are different expectations of behavior in church than in other public places so consider yourselves aware now. It’s those experienced Christians who do know better who should actually be ashamed of themselves. But here is where all parties need to get it together once and for all.

There’s a concept of reverence in the realm of faith that we all need to respect. You’re supposed to walk in the door of the church house in a spirit and mood of worship, not playfulness. Preachers, bishops and priests have gotten used to having to remind worshipers these last few years to put their phones on vibrate or turn them off altogether to avoid being interrupted by digital ring tones of every sort. Do you know I even heard a raunchy ring tone break into a weekend men’s meeting one time? And the guy picked up and started talking! As a rule, you don’t want T.I. or Kanye busting out with a verse while you’re learning how to get your soul saved or how to live your life better.

It seems the development of the small keyboard has become something altogether different for men and women of the cloth to deal with lately. So, if the preacher gets irritated and calls you out for playing with the latest digital inventions don’t play dumb and act like you’re offended. You brought it on yourself by not thinking and by acting out of turn. Show the respect that is due by being focused on the preached message. Don’t text while the preacher is preaching. Listen! Don’t tweet the sermon or the goings on during service to your friends. That’s silly. If you have to share do what we virtual spiritual types already do. Take notes on the church program and blog, tweet or text it later. You will have had time to reflect on the message and the music – maybe even looked at the reference scriptures, hint, hint – and have something truly substantive to share with your techie friends.

If you have a nice pastor like I do he may corral all the offenders and call you out collectively to spare you individual embarrassment. The point is that playing with your electronic toys in church is no different than talking out loud during the sermon or homily so cool your jets for a few moments of spiritual reflection and enrichment.

Back to those of us who do know better. How about let’s actually do better? Show a little courtesy to the holy man or woman in the pulpit by paying attention. It is disrespectful to be texting or tweeting during church services. Have I drummed it in deeply enough? You’re there to learn, not to play. If you’re giving a play-by-play of the service then you’re not actually paying sufficient attention to take it in. Not to mention that all that clickety clack is also distracting to the rest of us.

I assure you that it won’t kill you to de-virtualize and cut the digital umbilical cord for a while. And wouldn’t the day of the celebration of our Savior’s death and resurrection be a great day to start a good old habit? So show some tact and share the word with substance afterwards. Oh yeah, Happy Resurrection Day.

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