Hello World!!!

Before I get into the topic at hand, were you out last night in the A? It was actually chilly and windy. My thin-strapped bubble dress was not holding up in the night air…could it be that fall is upon us…could it be that my b-day is in a couple of weeks? The answer to both questions is a resounding, “Yes!” (Read: You still have time to buy a b-day gift for me…gift cards are cool too )

Okay, the topic of the day – Have you heard the news? Y’all would never guess who has enrolled in seminary…Yes, that’s right…Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth – that crazy chick from Donald Trump’s reality show “The Apprentice.” I watch very few reality shows, but I remember watching her on that show.  She was the ultimate “mean girl” and after a while, she became the reason that everyone tuned in. Most people would not admit it, but I think many of us got a vicarious thrill from watching her be catty and snooty. I imagine her demeanor will change now that she is officially a student at United Theological Seminary in Ohio. She is seeking a doctor of ministry degree. Her Web site is hilarious. She has two categories on her Web site: naughty and nice. On the nice page, she is dressed in a white flowly gown with her hands outstretched presumably pointed to heaven. I guess she is dressed as an angel. Well, on the naughty page, she is undoubtedly dressed as a devil. She has horns on her head and is in some red pleather get-up with her stomach showing.

I wonder if she plans to become a minister. Don’t laugh…stranger things have happened…Have you heard of Saul on the road to Damascus in the Bible? This guy, who was known for killing Christians, actually became one of the Bible’s most famous ministers of the gospel.  He actually has his own page on Wikipedia! All of this has me thinking about the qualities that make a good pastor or minister…

What do you look for? Do you want a minister who had a dramatic conversion experience like Paul or even Al Green? Apparently, he decided to become a minister not long after a pan of boiling grits was poured on him. Do you like a minister that can relate to young people? I’m sure that Rev. Run does not have a hard time relating to the youth. Does your minister have to be a bad girl gone good like Denise Matthews formerly of Vanity 6? Apparently, she is now an evangelist.

Celebrities aside, what do you look for in a pastor or a minister? Some people don’t believe that pastors should be women? Do you feel a pastor or minister should have a seminary degree? Is it important that a pastor have lived a rough life before being called to ministry? Or should a pastor be someone who was raised in the church and never strayed? Do your ministers have to be the same race that you are or have the same socioeconomic background that you have?  Do your pastors have to drive luxury vehicles or be married? Do your pastors have to be young with fresh ideas or old with time-tested beliefs?

In a previous post, I blogged about what people look for a church. In many cases, it is the pastor and or ministers that make the difference for some people.

Any thoughts?

Hello World!!!

July has been the busiest month I’ve had all year. Now that I’ve got those deadlines and activities behind me, I can blog again! Yay! I’m sure it’s no surprise  to you that I adore books. In fact, my very first post, which was almost a year ago (Wow!), was about a book that I read.

As a service on this blog, I plan to write book reviews and highlight interesting books periodically that you (my readers – hopefully I have some ) may find interesting and helpful. When I rededicated my life to Christ in 1996 and thus tried to remember that I was a Christian on a daily basis, I was at a loss at how to conduct myself. I knew some of the basic commandments – 1. You should probably not get drunk –  at least in front of other Christians. 2. You should probably not have sex unless you married. 3. You probably shouldn’t gossip – unless you are praying for someone in a prayer group and you’ve just got to tell their business. 4.  You should stop listening to any music unless it features a choir – preferably  a gospel one with a ridiculously loud soloist. 5. You should probably wear shorts that come to your knees instead of booty-tight short shorts….and on and on. Anyway, I wanted to live as as a Christian but NONE of the basic commandments I knew about appealed to me.

I realized that I could talk to pastors, deacons , Bible study leaders and other people in positions of authority to get some perspective, but they would probably reinforce the commandments that I knew about and add others. So I decided to talk to other regular ole Christians and read books about the Christian experience from other people. My rationale was that God would speak to me through regular people, books and my own life experiences. And He has…but along the way, I have lost my fear of many pastors, deacons, Bible study leaders and other people in positions of authority.  And most times, I no longer mind all of the commandments although I can’t say that I obey all of them…teehee…seriously though, God has spoken to me in a variety of ways about how to live the Christian life…And even today, one of my favorite ways to know more is read the experiences of others…so after my long intro, below is my review of the book Blue Like Jazz – Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller.

a pic of the author...

So this book is a about a Christian who has unusual ideas about his faith….And by the way, this is going to be an unconventional review…I just plan to recount some of the interesting passages of this book and give my thoughts…I don’t necessarily plan to break the book down sequentially or anything.  In the chapter Faith : Penguin Sex, the author decribes his faith in God…

The goofy thing about Christian faith is that you believe it and don’t believe it at the same time. It isn’t unlike having an imaginary friend. I believe in Jesus; I believe He is the Son of God, but every time I sit down to explain this to somebody I feel like a palm reader, like somebody who works at a circus or a kid who is always making things up or somebody at a Star Trek convention who hasn’t figured out the show isn’t real.

Until.

When one of my friends becomes a Christian, which happens every ten years because I am such a sheep about sharing my faith, the experience is euphoric. I see in their eyes the trueness of the story.

I feel the same way…when you decide to become a Christian and you tell others, it kind of feels like you’re saying that you believe in the tooth fairy or Santa Claus or something. (I think I read a similar line somewhere in some book…Ha,ha a similar line is in this book p. 55) It does sound a little silly to say that you believe in a God that you can’t see and that you even pray out loud to a God that has never spoken back audibly- at least to me…And so, it’s hard to to tell others even though that is what Christians are supposed to do – spread the good news aka gospel of Jesus Christ…I remember in my early ’20s, I used to hang around this dude Reggie…I met him through a column he wrote in Essence magazine (it’s a long story — ask me if you are interested…it is a pretty interesting story)

Anyway, me and this dude were obsessed with celebrities and we would go to various celebrity events around town and compare notes…back in the day, I even met a few (Diddy, Faith, Usher, Andre 3000, Jeru the Damaja etc.) Anyway, Reggie desperately wanted to work at LaFace Records back when it was headquarted in the A…every other word out his mouth was how he made a contact with someone who worked at the record label and it was only a matter of time before he would be working there…Simultaneously, I was trying to live my life as a newly rededicated Christian, and I wanted to tell Reggie about it…But I couldn’t figure out how to slip in the Good News in between his high octane rants about bum rushing folk until they let him work at LaFace. All of a sudden, we were talking one day about something off the wall I’m sure and he announces that he has decided to become a Christian and that he believes in Jesus Christ. I was so surprised I wanted to curse, but I’m reasonably sure that wouldn’t have been the right response just then. As he talked, I wondered who got to him before I did…I felt like I was a recruiter for Christ and someone had infringed on my territory. I invited him to my church after that, but it felt really anticlimactic at that point…He even came too…I don’t know what happened to Reggie…I hope he’s doing okay and is still a believer…I’ve gotten a little better about sharing my faith but not much…y’all pray for me…

Here is another interesting passage from the book:

I had become a Christian so why did I still struggle with lust, greed or envy? Why did I want to get drunk at parties or cheat on tests?

When I first rededicated my life to Jesus Christ, I stopped going to clubs for a while…I felt like God wanted me to do that…but after a while, I began going to clubs again with my friends…not on a regular basis but just to hang out every once in a while…some of the time, I decided to have drink…I would say to myself as I was drinking that first drink, this will be it…but another drink or two later, I would find myself laughing hysterically in some dude’s face and trying to coerce him to give me a piggy back ride in the club…not cool…The next day, I would wonder what my friends and God thought of my behavior…

Here is the author’s solution to this dilemma:

Our “behavior” will not be changed long with self-discipline, but fall in love and a human will accomplish what he never thought possible. The laziest of men will swim the English channel to win his woman. I think what Rick said is worth repeating that by accepting God’s love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel  we need to obey.

That’s true…but it also helps that I’m getting older…being tipsy in the club at 35 ain’t cute…

Here is the another great line from the book that  describes me I think:

So much of me believes strongly in letting everybody live their own lives, and when I share my faith, I feel like a network marketing guy trying to build my own down line.

Here’s another great passage from the book. This passage comes from the chapter Church: How I Go Without Getting Angry:

The churches I attended would embrace war metaphor. They would talk about how we are in a battle, and I agreed with them, only they wouldn’t clarify that we were battling poverty and hate and injustice and pride and the powers of darkness. They left us thinking that our war was against liberals and homosexuals. Their teaching would have me believe I was the good person in the world and the liberals were the bad people in the world…The truth is we are supposed to love the hippies, the liberals, and even the Democrats, and that God wants us to think of them as more important that ourselves. Anything short of this is not true to the teachings of Jesus.

I really despise that us against them mentality in Christianity that is highlighted every presidential election. It seems like some Republicans believe that they are the only ones qualified to call themselves Christian and if you don’t agree with all of their views, you are a sinner doomed to hell…

Anywho, I could say more about this book, but I feel like this post is long enough…If you’re looking for an incredibly insightful and humorous book about Christian faith, read Blue Like Jazz…

I’m out….

Any thoughts?  

Hello World!!!

As I stated in Sunday’s post, I will be “shouting out” churches that have remarkable ministries inside or outside of the church in the “Shout out to…” series on a periodic basis.

I “shouted out” Bethesda Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia in a previous post. The church, through the leadership of its Pastor Terrance J. Gattis, opened the House of Grace Health Care Clinic in February. Through this clinic, low-income, uninsured adults are able to receive FREE health care including exams, evaluation by a doctor, lab work and prescription services! The clinic, located at 3567 Covington Highway in Decatur,  is housed in a space donated by the Atlanta Belvedere Seventh Day Adventist Church.

I wrote the post after reading an article about the clinic. I did not hear about the clinic through the pastor, any church members or anyone that has visited the clinic. However, after a Google search about two weeks ago produced my blog , the pastor of the church contacted me via my Facebook page and thanked me for my coverage of the clinic opening. He also gave me a update on their efforts.

“House of Grace began the year with the goal of providing free primary and prevention health care services to the uninsured in the Decatur community.  Specifically, our goal is to provide support to 1,000 uninsured patients in 2009.  To date, House of Grace has treated more than 100 uninsured patients, while logging more than 250 hours of volunteer service from our doctor, nurse and support staff,” said Gattis.

However, the clinic, which is open on the first and third Monday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. , may have to scale back its services. Its sole doctor, Dr. C. J. Goodman, who recently opened a new practice, will only be available on one Monday per month starting in July. In addition to expressing his gratitude for my first post, Pastor Gattis also appealed me to write another post about his search for another physician to help staff the clinic.

“To help meet our goals for the year, we are desperately seeking a doctor, pa or clinical practical nurse who is willing to donate 3 to 6 hours of volunteer service per month.  Sovereign immunity protection is provided by the state, so issues of liability have been mitigated.  In short, we need someone who is willing to help us demonstrate the ethic and love of Jesus Christ and care for “the least of these” (Matt. 25:40), by blessing others with their time, talent and gifts.”

In an effort to demonstrate the clinic’s impact in a just a few months, I interviewed Pastor Gattis, Dr. Goodman and Deborah Hightower, a patient of the clinic.

The clinic is staffed by one doctor, a nurse, two medical assistants and four intake specialists – all volunteers. Potential patients travel to the clinic from as far as Loganville and Duluth to receive services and starting getting in line outside the clinic hours before the clinic opens. Only a few of those in line on each Monday are able to be evaluated at the clinic.  ”The lines begin at 4 p.m.,” explained Gattis. “We hand out 12 numbers [to patients.] After that we are done.”

While the clinic is available for homeless people, none of have showed up on the clinic’s doorsteps. “We haven’t seen any indigent people,” said Gattis. “We see working people who have no insurance or people who are in between jobs. These people look like you and me.”

Such is the case for Deborah Hightower, who has been out of work for about a year. However, at her last job, she was employed on a part-time basis and did not have any health care benefits. She was excited after she heard about the clinic when she visited Bethesda Baptist with a friend. “I thought this is going to be great,” Hightower said. “I will be able to get the services I need without health insurance or any income.”

She visited the clinic months later after she began experiencing symptoms related to her high blood pressure. The first time she went to the clinic she was turned away as there many others in line ahead of her. The second time she arrived at the clinic hours earlier and was pleased with how she was treated at the clinic.

“They treated me with compassion, grace, respect and kindness,” said Hightower. “Tht’s what I got when I walked in the door. They pay attention to you, and that is what you need.”

 While patients wait to be seen by the medical staff, they have the option of receiving counseling and or prayer by Gattis or a church minister.

“When a person signs in, there is an area on the sign-in form that asks if a person would like prayer and or pastoral counseling.  On average, about one out of three of the people select yes to one or both,” explained Gattis. “ So, while they’re waiting to be seen by the doctor,  either I or one of the ministers from our church will take them to a private area to pray or provide pastoral counseling.  During this time, if we discover that a person needs additional resources (from rental assistance to MARTA cards to food and clothing), we provide what they need or direct them to the necessary resources.”

Hightower appreciated both the medical attention and the counseling she received while at the clinic. “It helps you to relieve stress and get encouragement. I haven’t had any income in the past two months.”

Dr. Goodman agreed that many of the clinic’s patients need more than just medical attention. She recalled one patient who Goodman suspected was an alcoholic.

“She didn’t come in because she was an alcoholic,” Goodman explained. “I think she came in for an annual exam. Her speech was slurred. Alcoholics have a particular syntax even when they are sober. “

As the woman talked, Goodman listened before finally interupting her. ”I said, ‘Why don’t we take care of your body, soul and spirit? Will you let me help you instead of giving you a prescription?’ ” The woman began crying as Dr. Goodman spoke. “A lot of people are sick physically, but many are sick emotionally. It is necessary to have a discerning ear.”

Dr. Goodman belives that many ailments are simply caused by poor nutrition, and patients are also able to receive nutritional counseling at the clinic. Hightower learned that many of her symptoms were caused by her nutritional habits.

“I was told to drink more water and that I was eating too much sugar and sodium,” she said with a laugh.

Although Hightower laughed as she described her eating habits, she became serious at the thought of the clinic cutting back its services or even closing. She appealed to doctors who may be thinking of volunteering their time at the clinic.

“We would not be able to receive the help that we so desperately need without you,” she said.

Doctors may contact Pastor Gattis at (404)  610-1256. Please spread the word!

Any thoughts?

P.S. I have attached one of my favorite old-timey sounding gospel songs, “Come On In the Room,” by the Georgia Mass Choir. Jesus is the ultimate doctor for sure, but he also heals through medical doctors…

Hello World!!!

A friend of mine sent me a link to this wonderful Web site, iamsecond.com, and it got  me thinking about these masks that are easy to wear at church…

At my church, it seems that I am eternally “the pastor’s kid,” although I am 35 years old. My church family have known me since I was six years old, but they don’t know all of me for sure…There are certain parts that I have kept hidden away because they don’t fit the image of “the pastor’s kid.” I’m not blaming them because maybe this is a self-imposed burden…no one ever asked me to keep certain parts of myself hidden, but nevertheless that is what I have done…

That is why I think this Web site is really cool because people are sharing their real stories and turning to Christ as their first line of defense against their struggles. Through the Web site, people share their stories of abuse, porn addiction, eating disorders, infidelity, divorce — and how they have been able to cope with these struggles through having a personal relationship with God. They have put Christ first, and their identities including their struggles are now second…

I have learned through various means how to be my authentic self, and it perplexes me how sometimes “church folk” try to make it seem that everything is always alright…That’s why it’s annoying when sometimes you ask “church folk” how they are doing and their standard answer, no matter what, is, “I’m blessed and highly favored.” Stop lying. You just ate a box of doughnuts, and you feel like you can’t stop eating no matter how hard you try…Or, you just spent the whole night looking at porn on the Internet…Or your marriage is a lonely facade although everyone thinks y’all are happy…Or your body is bruised courtesy of your husband’s uncontrollable anger…Yes, we are all “blessed and highly favored” for sure, but hiding behind that standard answer gets no one closer to the solution…

That’s why I was especially touched when gospel singer Kirk Franklin talked about his porn addiction with Oprah a few years ago…He certainly did not have to reveal his struggle…he hadn’t been caught in anything which is why many people reveal their struggles…Maybe being willing to confront struggles is one of the reasons why Kirk Franklin has teamed up with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for the “Fight of Our Life Health Tour.” I heard Franklin talking about this partnership with Rev. Al on the radio last week. Rev. Al, who has lost a considerable amount of weight, commented that this partnership is particularly important in the black church where life can be preached upstairs and greasy, fried chicken and other artery-clogging foods are served downstairs. But that is probably true for many Southern churches, black or white….And let me not front, I love fried chicken, but I also know that we can be slaves to detrimental eating habits…I know that God doesn’t want us to struggle with that…

So who are you behind your “church persona?”

Any thoughts?

P.S. If you would rather not share your thoughts here, but need to talk to somebody, please go to the I Am Second Web site where someone is available 24/7.

Hello World!!!

Two words. He. Arose…I could stop there, but I won’t…At the Maundy Thursday service I attended a few days ago, each person was given a scripture to read as a part of the service…

Below is the scripture that I read:

³² They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. ³³ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ³⁴ My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch. ³⁵ Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. ³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. ³⁹ Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹ Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mark 14:32-41

I have been meditating on these scriptures since then, and I think I know what the Lord is saying to me through these verses, and what I think is confirmed by another translation of the same scriptures. The first version is the New International Version of scripture, and the second version is the Contemporary English Version.

³²Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he told them, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and ³⁴told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”  ^35-36Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father, ^[a] if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. ^[b] But do what you want, and not what I want.”  ³⁷When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can’t you stay awake for just one hour? ³⁸Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.” ³⁹Jesus went back and prayed the same prayer. ⁴⁰But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say. ⁴¹When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time, he said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? ^[c] Enough of that! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.

Although Jesus Christ knew that He came to Earth to die for our sins, He clearly did not look forward to this ultimate sacrifice. And so He prayed that He would not have to die in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion. He accurately told the Father that God could remove our sin without Jesus having to lay down his life as God is all powerful. I think Jesus wanted His disciples to petition the Father on His behalf…He asked them three times to pray…Yet they failed Him each time.  Instead they chose to sleep. After His third request, I believe Jesus knew what the Lord absolutely required…something supernatural would have to supersede the natural because the natural wasn’t going to cut it.

I know I can apply this scripture to my life. I think sacrifice is a requirement in the life of a Christian. We may not be required to die on the cross, but we do have a cross to bear – that cross may be different for each person. And who wants to bear a cross…We may pray and ask several people to pray that we don’t have to bear that cross, but in the end, we realize that there is no way to it- unless you go through it…That’s a hard pill to swallow…As I type this post, I know there is something I must sacrifice, but I would rather not…What in your life is God asking you to sacrifice that you rather not… As I ponder on my current cross, I just have to sigh….Thank God, when I’m ready to do my part, I can ask God to supersede the natural and help me….Yes, I fall down…a lot…but thanks be to God, He Got Up and eventually I will too…

Anyway, it’s something to ponder on this blessed Easter Sunday!!!

Any thoughts?

Hello World!!!

Easter Sunday is just a couple of days away…If you’re anything like me, you will be shopping for your Easter outfit on Saturday and reminiscing about Easter Egg Hunts and eating those Cadbury chocolate eggs…I’ve since learned that some foods like Cadbury Creme Eggs don’t agree with me but I would be lying if I said the thought doesn’t cross my mind as I walk past the pastel displays of Easter goodies in all of the stores…

But as you and I know, Easter is not about the brand new dress, the Easter eggs or the assorted sweets…it is about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ…But if you’ve been a Christian for years or even in church for years – and there is a difference- you know the story backward and forward and it doesn’t quite enthrall you as it should…Yes, I’m keepin’ it real as they say…

Anyway, in an effort to get a fresh perspective on Easter, I decided to attend a Maundy Thursday service at Redemption Community Church, where I attend Bible Study. Thinking it was going to be like a typical church service, I wore a dress, hose and heels. However, as I walked into the church’s Fellowship Hall,  I immediately recognized that I was a bit overdressed. There were several basins set up in front of chairs. Folded towels were placed on the backs of the chairs. Also, instead of the jubilant songs that are a staple of Easter celebrations, a soundtrack of somber songs played as people sat in the chairs that were lined up on the wall.

I observed that I wasn’t the only one that was wondering what would come next. People peered at the chairs and the basins in the center of the room. Each person was given a slip of paper on which was written a scripture concerning the Easter story and was told to meditate on the scripture. I did, and I will tell you more about my scripture on Easter Sunday…stay tuned…After a while, the leader of the service explained the meaning of Maundy Thursday to us. On this Thursday, Jesus partook of the Last Supper with his disciples. He explained how during Biblical times, people had their feet washed upon entering someone’s house as their feet were dirty from outdoor debris. Obviously, their shoes weren’t as as durable as the shoes we wear today. The lowliest servant of the house was responsible for this task.

As a part of the Last Supper and in an effort to demonstrate humility, the Lord washed his disciples’ feet. The leader of the service told us that Jesus was communicating that to be a disciple of Christ, we must also demonstrate our humility and asked us when was the last time we did something for someone else in an effort to demonstrate humilty.

¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.  John 13:12-17

Here is another passage that also demonstrates Jesus’ thoughts on humility and service.

²⁵ Jesus called them together and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:25-28

The leader then told us that we would be washing one another’s feet. (I was glad that I had a pedicure not that long ago. Otherwise, someone would have left that service deeply disturbed, ha,ha…) Each pair was given a pitcher of water that was mixed with anointing oil and was instructed to simply pour water over one foot of your partner and towel dry that person’s foot. The other person would follow suit and then we were told to pray for one another…I was moved as I participated in the exercise and watched everyone.

Afterward, as we stood back in front of our original seats, each person read their scripture, and the Easter story was recounted through the scripture reading. We were also told to perform acts of humility and consider what Jesus would have us to do. I won’t tell you what I’m going to do as I think it would be boasting to say that I will do this or do that, but I will say this. If you’re anything like me, you think that somehow YOUR SCHEDULE is above all else – that is someone has to almost make an appointment to disrupt your schedule in any way…I think it would be an act of humility or service to gracefully allow my schedule to be disrupted if another needs my help or service…

As I was driving to church last night, I saw that a person’s car had stalled on the road and people were driving around the car and continuing on their journey as if they didn’t notice that person needed help. I was among that group. Would it have killed me to stop and ask if that person needed help? Probably not…But I had things to do and people to see – Geez, I was headed to church…I think my story illustrates two points…1. I don’t think you have to look very far to find someone to help…it would be crazy to ignore someone asking for help while you’re on your way to a shelter to drop off  your canned goods…2. Humility doesn’t have a be a big production…it may just mean asking someone if he or she needs your help…Now, I won’t be foolish…If I see some man pulled over on the highway and it’s late at night, trust me I will speed right on by, but you get the idea…

Anyway, my objective for the night was achieved…I have a fresh new outlook for Easter which is worth infinitely more than a fresh new dress – although I will be wearing one. I intend to pray and ask God to allow me the opportunity to demonstrate humility and service as He did with this disciples….

Hope it’s a Good Friday for you…

Any thoughts?

Hello World!!!

Blessings to you on this first day of Holy Week! If you remember my Valentine’s Day post or more accurately, my Valentine’s Day Eve post, I discussed some songs that get me in that lovey dovey mood…And that is why I want to list some songs – praise and worship and gospel – that get me in the mood to lift up my Lord and Savior -none other than Jesus Christ. During this week, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I plan to focus my attention on the Lord and His blessed resurrection  because He is worthy of all my praise and adoration!

Thankfully very early in my Christian journey, a fellow traveler revealed the secrets of praise to me and it has become an important aspect of my relationship with Him…First of all, I learned to praise the Lord whether my circumstances are good or bad, and through my praise, the Lord gives me joy – which is not dependant on happiness! As my father said, most people make themselves unhappy because they expect to be happy all of the time….it just ain’t gonna happen…but you can always have joy! Praise Jesus!

And although times may be particularly bad for many people right now, we are challenged  in the Word to offer up the sacrifice of praise…And we can do it, because the Lord sacrificed his Son for us….

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.   Hebrews 13:15

So because I love my Lord more than any other, I will list 15 rather than the 14 songs I listed my for Valentine’s Day Eve post…let me know what you think…

1. “Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers – It was a happy day when I was saved! This soulful song can’t help but put you in the mood to praise Him! It’s a good song to end your workout with as well for my gym rats out there…

2. “I’m Still Holding On” by Luther Barnes and the Red Budd Gospel Choir featuring Deborah Barnes – Although I sometimes feel silly believing in a God that I can’t see, I still hold on because I’ve had too many blessings and experiences to turn back now…I’m still holding on…

3. “Expect a Miracle” by The Clark Sisters – If you follow God, you will have a supernatural experience…This song right here is pure butta baby…the notes these women hit…umm, um – truly gifted from the Lord! It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get your day started right!

4. “Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin – First of all I met Kirk Franklin in Nashville, Tennessee a few years ago…He is the nicest guy for real! And he is as short as I am…hilarious!  Anyway, this song is a shonuff praise song…I ain’t gon lie…not too many gospel songs make me wanna dance but this one does….(I included a pic of us in this post…obviously, I wasn’t hitting the gym as I needed to…)

5. “My Life, My Love, My All” by Kirk Franklin – Just a beautiful love and praise song…It’s a love song for Jesus…I know that sounds corny, but it’s true…I’m swaying as I’m listening to it right now…

6. “The Blood Song” by Kirk Franklin featuring Donnie McClurkin, Crystal Lewis and Jaci Velasquez – Can you tell I’m a Kirk Franklin fan?

7. “This Battle is the Lord’s” by Yolanda Adams – When folks gettin’ on your nerves and you’re hoping the Lord will get your vengence for you- vengence is mine He says…I know it’s wrong, but I know I ain’t the only one…Y’all pray for me and for yourself…Anyway, the Lord is my protector and yours…

8. “Open My Heart” by Yolanda Adams – The lyrics for this song are just soo honest…”Don’t let me make the same mistakes over and over again.” I sometimes make the same mistake over and over and over again…But the Lord is working with me…

9. “Victory” by Yolanda Adams – This song rocks! In spite of myself, I was bobbing my head when I first heard this song as I watched the movie “The Gospel” a few years ago…

10. “Fragile Heart” by Yolanda Adams – First of all, the guitar solo at the song at the beginning of this song is crazy…This song is about losing a beloved person in your life to death…but I think the song works if you’re broken hearted about anything…Sometimes, it’s only the Lord that can heal your broken heart…

11. ”Shackles” by Mary Mary – This is a nice song to bob your head to in the car… (Plus, they are so pretty too…sorry, I believe in being cute!)

12. “Love Him Like I Do” by Dietrick Haddon, Mary Mary and Ruben Studdard – Again in spite of myself, I find myself rockin’ when I hear this song…I swear you will to .

13. “Love Song” by Canton Jones – Just a beautiful song about the love of God…it compares to no other…and really works when your man is trippin’ …y’all know how it is!

14. “Let Go” by DeWayne Woods – This song is sooo earnest…I don’t know about you, but sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go and let God…that’s when things begin to change…Read about Woods’ amazing testimony here.

15. “How Can I Say” by Lisa McClendon – She is not as popular as the other artists I mentioned, but her voice is beautiful. And the lyrics of this song are beautiful…how can I say I love the Lord and not talk to Him each day…

So what are your favorite praise and worship and gospel songs or even hymns?

Any thoughts? 

P.S. Here is the video for Lisa McClendon’s song…

Hello World!!!

In my last post, I asked y’all to shout your home church and y’all complied. Thank you kindly! And now I want to take the time to highlight the good work of another church – Bethesda Baptist Church in the Dec…for those of you who live out of state – that is Decatur…where it’s greater! (U, stand up girl!)

In fact, by way of my girl, U, I learned about the church, which has opened up a free health clinic, the House of Grace Health Care Clinic. The clinic offers exams, evaluation by a doctor, lab work and presciption services to low-income, uninsured adults at NO COST. The clinic  is housed in a space donated by the Atlanta Belvedere Seventh Day Adventist Church. The church once operated a school in the space. This is also an awesome example of churches working together!

The clinic, which is seeking patients, can treat up to 30 patients on the first and third Monday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. To qualify for care, you must be 18 years old and have an income at or below 20 percent of the federal poverty level. According to The Champion Newspaper, an individual who earns a monthly income at or below $1805 or a family of four whose monthly income is not greater than $3, 675 would be eligible to receive services for example. Services include: non-emergency primary care services; blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, prostate and HIV/AIDS screenings; and pap smears.  A family medical doctor has donated her services and is working with three to five medical assistants. What an example of God’s grace!

Through the donation of space, equipment and personnel, the clinic will be open up to six months with an operating budget of $7,000. However, according to the pastor, Pastor Terrance J. Gattis, the clinic needs to raise $15,000 to $25,000 to fund the annual budget. To donate online through the clinic’s PayPal account, go to http://mybethesda.org/House_Of_Grace.html. Gattis is also seeking an additional doctor to expand the clinic’s services.

According to the Word (Mark 16: 17-18), believers can “lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” I think God is working through this pastor and the Bethesda Baptist Church to provide healing…

If you know of a church which is doing some outstanding work in the community, don’t be scared to shout out the church…I may even write a post about them…

Any thoughts?

P.S. Shout out to Dr. Benjamin Carson, pictured above,  who is director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Children’s Center. Carson credits his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for enabling him to achieve his stunning success!

Hello World!!!

During these difficult economic times, I’m sure more and more people are finding themselves in church on Sunday mornings…There is nothing like hearing the encouraging and heartfelt words of a skilled pastor accompanied by the sounds of a soulful choir to lift your spirits when all else has failed…I imagine that our beloved commander in chief and his beautiful family would benefit from regularly attending church…but as you know since the debacle that was President Obama’s and Rev. Wright’s break up last year, the Obamas have been without a church home…According to a McClatchy Newspapers article, the Obamas probably won’t pick a church home until after Easter.

Sources in the article stated the following DC churches are on their short list:

1. Metropolitan AME – Powerful black leaders including Vernon Jordan attend this church. Frederick Douglass is a past member, and the church may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad…sounds good to me…

2. Nineteenth Street Baptist – (now on 16th Street) The church has an extensive civil rights history.

3. People’s Congregational United Church of Christ – This church, of the same denomination as Obama’s former church, has a predominantly black congregation. Melody Barnes, Obama’s domestic policy advisor, is a member of the church.

4. Calvary Baptist – Led by a pastor who grew up in Hawaii, this is a smaller church. The Rev. Amy Butler “writes a church blog and is building a young, mixed ethnic and racial congregation.”

I’m sure the Obamas are praying about their choice, and I pray that God’s will prevails…

The Obamas’ search has got me thinking about what people look for in a church. As I’m a preacher’s daughter, I have attended my father’s church for most of my life. For all of its flaws, my small church feels like an extended family. They watched me grow up and their love has sheltered me when the outside world shunned me. (Middle school was crazy hard. ) We have experienced many deaths in our little family. We’ve watched many members move on to more glitzy and glam churches about town. We’ve watched some stray away from the faith altogether…but we’re still here…and still holding on to our faith…

In an effort to kinda switch things up a bit,  however, I decided  about a year or so ago to attend Bible Study at a different church…Seeing my father at my home church and at my parents’ home can get old…Shout out to Redemption Community Church which is led by Pastor L.K. Pendleton! A small but growing United Methodist church, I also feel at home there. Let me also shout out our fearless Bible Study leader who shall go nameless unless he wants to reveal himself! His passion for the Lord and the Word have inspired me! (He’s a bit mouthy and brash, but I don’t mind…ha,ha!)

What do you look for in a church? Some people prefer large churches whereas others prefer a small, close-knit church. Some churches draw people because of their choirs. Other churches draw people because they have historical significance. Other churches are popular because many races are represented there. Some people like churches because they have “pomp and circumstance.” Some people prefer churches which are led by fringe groups not typically represented at mainstream churches. Other churches draw people because they have star pastors and star members for that matter. Some people pick their churches simply because they are down the street…

Why do you attend your church? Also, don’t be scared to shout our your church!

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.  Psalm 122:1

Any thoughts?

Hello World!!!

As we enter the last full week before the presidential election next Tuesday, I thought I would post a sober and reflective entry about “how we got over” thus far, and those who God has used thus far to exact change in the United States of America. ( will try anyway. I just love making people laugh!)

Last month at a journalism conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first black woman to attend the University of Georgia. As she spoke about race relations during this current election cycle and compared and contrasted it with her bittersweet experiences at UGA, she mentioned that she is the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. Since I, too, graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree, (I don’t care what you FAMU Rattlers say, I’m proud of my HWCU) and am the daughter and granddaughter of ministers, I knew I had to talk with her after her speech.

So as she signed my copy of her memoir In My Place, I asked her if she would be interested in being interviewed for my blog. She gave me her contact information and asked me to contact her later! But after a few weeks of playing phone tag, her daughter called me and told me that Mrs. Hunter-Gault was world traveling and wouldn’t be able to do the interview…oh well, you win some, you lose some…

However, I did read her book while I was on vacation, and I wanted to share some interesting passages in the book and my insights.

As I read her memoir, I was again reminded how the church has shaped many of the lives of American black heroes including Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Benjamin Mays, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Martin Luther King Jr. – and this is just a sampling… She wrote about being a part of her church’s annual Easter program, attending Vacation Bible School and traveling to church conventions – near and far. I can relate, I can relate. In another passage, she said, “the difference between my father and my grandfather as preachers was that my father was a minister – more cerebral, less theatrical.” That’s true for my Dad and my Grandpa (I know you’re in heaven, Grandpa!) too.  She wrote about a grandmother that fasted and prayed on Fridays. My dear grandmother, who is now deceased as well, used to scare me when she prayed. First of all, she prayed in a stream of consciousness way and a sob seemed to be caught in throat as she prayed. I could actually picture her vocal chords quivering. Plus she was loud! I always thought if the Lord doesn’t answer her prayer “just now,” somebody needed to so she could stop…

There are also a lot of interesting pop culture details for voracious pop culturists in this book.  For instance, Hunter-Gault attended Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Atlanta, which is still in existence today, where she listened to her first elementary school boyfriend, William, and his cousin, Gladys, sing in the “Sunbeam” choir. They also sang at the Royal Peacock on Auburn Avenue on Saturday nights. (Y’all from the A know about the Royal Peacock!) Gladys, William and others later became Gladys Knight and the Pips!

I love history, but since I graduated from college, I haven’t been as motivated to read as many historical texts as I should. In reading this memoir, I was delighted to learn some Atlanta history that I probably should have known before now. For instance, civic and political leader John Wesley Dobbs, grandfather of the late Maynard Jackson, Atlanta’s first black mayor, was said to the originator of the term “Sweet Auburn.” Dr. King Jr. grew up in the Auburn Avenue area, which was and is a symbol of black pride in the city. Big Bethel, which is decorated with the words “Jesus Saves” on its tower, was the site of Morris Brown College’s first classes.

While she was in high school, Hunter-Gault and her family lived in Alaska. I wonder if she could see Russia from her house. (Shout out to Gov. Palin!) Jokes aside, maybe moose meat ain’t all that bad. Hunter-Gault described sampling and actually enjoying it. Her grandmother prepared it by marinating it with vinegar and onions and “cooking the stew out of it.”

Hunter Gault also talked about her decision to pledge Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., which is, of course, the best sorority in the world! Of course, I’m bias! (OO-OOP MY SORORS!) “They represented the kind of woman I wanted to be: soft and appealing, clear-headed and strong without being strident. And I liked the fact that they seemed to have steady relationships with their boyfriends.”

When it came time to endure the jeering, taunting and even a gun-toting madman as she started her life at UGA, the voice of her grandmother reciting the Twenty-Third Psalm comforted her. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.”

I don’t know what’s in store this historic election and I don’t want to jinx anything, but even Hunter-Gault said she believes an aura surrounds Barack Obama. And a lady said to me yesterday that she feels that like our ancestors(a “cloud of witnesses” if you will) are gathering around here to see…it’s been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come…

Any thoughts?

P.S. Don’t forget to vote early. It ain’t a done deal yet! Barack the Vote!!!