BECAUSE YOU ARE WOMEN

Because you are women
You keep deep inside
The hopes and the dreams
You think you must hide.

You strive to be best
Make the top of the heap
Because you are women
The climb is so steep.

The ceiling of glass
A must to be broken
It only exists
Because you are women.

From morning to night
Multi-tasks you perform
Because you are women
It’s often ‘til morn

Because you are women
To nurture is norm
But when it’s your turn
You are left in the storm.

So wet are the tears
You shed late in the night
Because you are women
You don’t share your plight.

With anxiety high
Self esteem at a low
Because you are women
You don’t let it show.

Because you are women
There is power within
To believe in yourselves
You always will win.

United you stand
With strength and with force
Because you are women
Together on course.

The lesson you learn
Is the matter of trust
Because you are women
In each other a must.

Because you are women
You open your hearts
To the caring and love
That today you have sparked

Possibility abounds
Opportunity awaits
Because you are women
It’s all yours to take.

First and formost, I give honor to God. Now, I thank you my dear friend M.J. Waldock, for inspiring me to personalize this poem to the four women in my life, (Vicenta, Leticia, Alicia and Olga) who raised me from my youth to adulthood to become what the world has proven throughout history as rare. A man with great sensitivity, honor, love and respect for all women. All too frequently today, people are starved for a little praise. Whether we are willing to acknowledge it to others, or even admit it to ourselves, we all need a little praise in our life. Marlene, thank you for your poem entitled, "BECAUSE WE ARE WOMEN". All credit for my version belongs to you.

Andres

NOTORIOUS

Though multi-unit semi-detached row houses were typical where I grew up, my family lived in the Fiorentino Plaza Projects, a predominantly African American, low-income, residential neighborhood located in a part of eastern Brooklyn, a borough and commuter town of New York City, known as East New York.

Like most New Yorkers, I will never claim being from any other city. Brooklyn runs through my heart and I will never deny my Brooklynight roots. Though I can candidly say that East New York, Brooklyn was an exciting place to grow up, I wouldn’t recommend it as a tourist attraction because to this day it is still one of New York's most dangerous neighborhoods. Though crime has declined in recent years you are very unlikely to do anything in this neighborhood except traverse it on the way from Kennedy Airport (JFK) to points west.

My beloved ENY was surrounded by other neighborhoods such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Heights, Brownsville, Bushwick, Coney Island, Crown Heights, Cypress Hills, Flatbush, Flatlands, Fort Greene, Fort Hamilton, Park Slope, Red Hook, Sheepshead Bay, and Starrett City, which is now known as Spring Creek Towers, the only city in the entire world located in the borough of another city. Starrett City is considered by many to be one of the safest communities in the United States because it maintains its own Special Police Force. Excluding Starrett City, Brooklyn was infested with countless of deadly congregations known by some as thugs, hoodlums, criminals or gangsters but to most, they were recognized as gangs.

Yes, I wholeheartedly dare call them congregations because congregations are those who gather for worship on a particular occasion, or those who habitually attend a place of worship. But unlike the congregations we know in churches or synagogues, this one gathered for worship on deadly, bloody occasions and their habitually attended place of worship was in the streets. Such congregations then known as The Crazy Homicides, The Sex Boys, The Hardy Boys, The Savage Skulls, The Dukes, The Majestic’s, The Latin Kings, The Jolly Stompers, The Lords, The Eagles, The Tomahawks, The Satan Souls, The Black Spades, The Ghetto Brothers, The Universal Zulu Nation, The Young Lords, The Chaplains, The Horsemen, The Bishops, The Phantom Lords, The Outlaws, The Nomads, The Henchmen, The Bachelors and many, many more but I’m surprised I remembered the ones I’ve already mentioned.

Back in those days I had a wide reputation as a decent fighter due to the outcome of fights I was involved in. Thank God for the instructions I received from a man who actually caught me shop lifting fruits from a Chinese fruit stand in the Chinatown section of Manhattan. He was impressed with the way I defended myself as he attempted and succeeded to detain me with ease. He then told me that he was slightly impressed and asked me where I did learned the moves I displayed. I told him that I use what I've learned from boxing taught to me by both the Saint Johns Recreation Center in Flatbush and Bronxville Boxing Team then combined them with the Kung Fu taught to me by the East New York Police Athletic League. He then promised me he would not turn me over to the owners of the fruit stand nor the police if I promised to apologize to them, help clean their fruit stand for a week and commit to learning lessons from an art he called Hung Ga Kung fu. In less then a year of those lessons combined with the ones I’ve learn from my mother and the Word of God, I learn so much about high moral character, commitment, respect and dedication than I have in my entire life at that time. And yes, the bag of fruits after each and every lesson wasn’t too bad either.

My mother used to say, “Andy, tell me who you’re walking with and I’ll tell you who you are”. In other words, if you hang out with thugs, hoodlums, criminals and gangsters, you became a mirror image of those notorious, disgraceful, dishonorable, thugs, hoodlums, criminals and gangsters.

Was I actually notorious? To some, not likely, then again, to others, I was every bit a notorious Brooklynight and more. I wasn’t such a terrible youngster, I was a church boy. Or so I thought I was simply because the only people I enjoyed beating down were the ones I thought needed a good old fashion beat down. The ones we called bullies. I know that sounds like a great thing to do but the closer I got to God over the years the more I regret handling bullies the way I did. In reality, I thought it was the noble thing to do, that’s until the moment the news of my actions got to my mothers ears.

I can remember how disappointed she was because she’d always remind me that two wrongs don’t make a right. She yelled at me in Spanish, “MATÓN NOTORIO”, translated in English “NOTORIOUS BULLY”. She made me realize that my actions towards bullies transformed me into the mirror image not just a bully but of a notorious one at that. So if a bully is known as an individual who tends to intimidate and harass others, always imposing their approach by force and I intimidated and harass bullies, always imposing my approach by force, then in Gods eyes, I was no different then they were… oppressors.

"Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways." Proverbs 3:31

We must never choose the way of the oppressor. Bullies as children are not to be looked up to. We must not even fellowship with those who choose to oppress others. The worldly wealth that some acquire with their oppression of others should never be envied or desired. Evil and good are like oil and water. They cannot mix.

Bullies and the devil have three things in common. A bully is a boisterous person who walks around the neighborhood seeking those he can demean and the devil constantly walks about earth, like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The only difference is the bully does it in the physical or carnal realm and the devil does it in the spiritual but in the long run, both are accountable to the LORD for all that they do.

Now there’s a difference in which we must handle our battles against bullies and the devil.

When dealing with any human being, whether their bullies or not, God wants us to love them as we love ourselves. We would not figure up evil against ourselves, so we must not against anyone else as well.

"Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm."Proverbs 3:29, 30“

We should not live in strife and fussing, but should learn to live peaceably with all men. If we live for the Lord, we are promised that even our enemies will be at peace with us. This does not say that there is never a time for strife. If your enemy attacks you, you may defend yourself; but you must not start strife nor keep it going. God said be meek, He didn’t say be weak.

Now as for our battles with the devil, we as children of the Lord are soldiers in the army of the Lord, therefore go get your bayonets, knives, swords, handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, Rifles, assault weapon, grenades, lasers, detonators, Iron Bar, rough stick, wooden club, Billy-club, lead pipe, axe handle, or even if you’re a black belt in martial arts and can think of many more weapons made by the hands of man and throw them away because they are not going to work at all.

First of all we must,

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

It is within our willpower to resist the devil and the temptations that he puts before us. We have been given the power of attorney to use the wonderful, mighty and matchless name of Jesus to defeat the devil. The temptations that the devil brings our way are really temptations of the flesh. These temptations will leave, if we say no to it. God will not over-rule our will. He gives us the power to choose. We must decide right, or wrong, for ourselves. The minute you emphatically say no to the devil and his temptations, he will go on to someone else and leave you alone. Flee means leave in a hurry. A heart and will controlled by God will have no difficulty in saying no to the devil and his temptations.

Secondly, we must,

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." Ephesians 6:11, 12

To fight against our enemy we must learn who he is and what he’s all about. The enemy that you cannot see with your physical eye is the most dangerous, because you do not know when he is on the attack, or just which way he is coming from. Realize that this is a spiritual battle. The devil, old Lucifer himself, and his angels who are actually demons, or devil spirits, are the enemy. His tactics are to tempt the flesh of man. The flesh of man is earthy. These battles are more real as real can be.

I was never involved with the gangs, but because of my ability to easily win fights against other teens and men older and bigger than me, I was constantly scouted, asked, and threatened to join various gangs. Yet, each and every time I turn them down. Their actions against me, due to their displeasure with my decisions, are another story, for another time. At one point, rival gangs united together to do me in. I will never forget the countless hours I spent hiding inside a dumpster to avoid the bloodthirsty gang bangers who were looking for me. I came to the realization that I had to flee from my beloved Brooklyn immediately.

Throughout my teen years I was feared as a fighter, but God got a hold of me and took away the fear I had by reminding me that He did not give me the spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind.

"Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken." Proverbs 3:25, 26

Yes I left Brooklyn and the only weapon I took with me was my Sword, which is the Word of God, which is my Bible. And since the Lord changed the way I saw my world, and since then He's used me to fight, not against flesh, but against spiritual evil through the power of the Holy Spirit. No matter how notorious I may have been I learned that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Without God on my side, I was no match for spiritual battles. Therefore I cast down my imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and I bring into captivity every thought I have to the obedience of Christ.

I serve the Lord with humility of my mind. I put on therefore, as the elect of God, meekness, loving-kindness, and longsuffering. God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on Him. I trust in Him with all my heart and I do not lean to my own understanding or reasoning. I acknowledge Him in all my ways and He keeps all my paths straight. I am careful for nothing, but in everything by prayers and supplications I let my requests be known to Him. Now I can say that I more powerful than I could ever have been at any stage in my entire life because I have the mind of CHRIST. For God has not given me the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind; and he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to His will.

No longer known as a notorious or a great conqueror in the flesh in my own efforts,

But more than a conqueror in the spirit through Christ Jesus,

I am now forever free.

Amen!

The Strength Of A Man

The strength of a man isn't seen in the width of his shoulders.
It's seen in the width of his arms that circle you.

The strength of a man isn't in the deep tone of his voice.
It is in the gentle words he whispers.

The strength of a man isn't how many buddies he has.
It's how good a buddy he is with his or "your" children.

The strength of a man isn't in how respected he is at work.
It's in how he is respected at home.

The strength of a man isn't in how hard he hits.
It's in how tender he touches.

The strength of a man isn't in the hair on his chest.
It's in his heart... that lies within his chest.

The strength of a man isn't in how many women he's loved.
It's in how true he can be to the ONE woman he's trying to love.

The strength of a man isn't in the weight he can lift.
It's in the burdens he can carry.

The strength of a man isn't in how much food he eats from your table.
It's in the effort he puts forth when you are unable.

The strength of a man isn't in how he makes love.
It's in the understanding that there is more to making love......

than making love.

Use Me Lord

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Don't you know that God can and will use you right where you are Today.

You don't need to do anything else for God to begin to use you now. You don't have to read another book, listen to another cassette tape, memorize another passage, plant another seed gift, or repeat another creed or confession. You don't even need to attend another church service before God can use you.

God uses willing vessels, not brimming or overflowing vessels. Throughout the Bible, in order to fulfill His plans for the earth, God used all kinds of people from all walks of life:

He used Matthew, a government employee who became an apostle

He used Gideon, a common laborer who became a valiant leader of men

He used Jacob, a deceiver and refugee whose' name became Israel and who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel

He used Deborah, a housewife who became a judge

He used Moses, a stutterer who became a deliverer

He used Jeremiah, a child who fearlessly spoke the Word 0 Lord

He used Aaron, a servant who became God's spokesman

He used Nicodemus, a Pharisee who became a defender 0 faith-

He used David, a shepherd boy who became a king

He used Hosea, a marital failure who prophesied to save Israel

He used Joseph, a prisoner who became prime minister

He used Esther, an orphan who became a queen

He used Elijah, a homely man who became a mighty prophet

He used Joshua, an assistant who became a conqueror

He used James and John, fishermen who became close disciples of Christ and were known as the "sons of thunder -

He used Abraham, a nomad who became the father of I112: nations

He used John the Baptist, a vagabond who became the forerunner of Jesus

He used Mary, an unknown virgin who gave birth to the Son of God

He used Nehemiah, a cupbearer who built the wall of Jerusalem.

He used Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Hebrew exiles, became great leaders in the Babylonian Empire

He used Hezekiah, an idolatrous father's son, who became a king renowned for doing right in the sight of the Lord -

He used Isaiah, a man of unclean lips who prophesied the birth of God's Messiah

He used Paul, a self-righteous persecutor who became the greatest missionary in history and the author of two thirds of the books of the New Testament.

Thank you so much brother John L Mason for help in inspiring me to write and for blessing me with your wonderful book, "Enemy Called Average". Thank you for reminding me that this same God who use our brothers and sisters in the past is still using willing vessels today, therefore, He can also use me. I will never forget you.

Elder J Andres Vazquez

IN MY PREACHER'S MIND

In my preacher's mind I see a meeting going on. Only problem is, I can't tell you when this meeting took place. (Somewhere on the other side of the purple curtains of eternity) Why? Because it took place before "when" ever was. I can't tell you where this meeting was being held. Why? Because this meeting took place before "where" was given a place to be. This meeting took place before "when" was ever given time to keep, or before "where" was ever assigned an identifiable location from which to exist. I don't know when the meeting took place, and I can't even tell you where this meeting happened. Oh, but I do know Who was at the meeting. God was there. He was there in His tri-unity. What you talking about preacher? He was there in the person of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God was having a meeting with Himself. If you don't believe me you ought to turn your Bible to Genesis 1:26 where He said, "Let us make man I our image, after our likeness."

In my preacher's mind this is how I hear the meeting going. God the Father, Who is the supreme architect and creator of the universe says, "Let us make man." God the Holy Spirit, Who knows all and sees all says, "If you make man, he's gonna sin." But Jesus, Who is the Savoir of us, all steps forward and says, "If man sins, I will go down and redeem man from his sins."

And so it was agreed that as a part of bringing man into the world he would need to be redeemed and saved from his sins. So as the Son prepared to go down through 40 and 2 generations in order to redeem sinful man the Holy Spirit told Him when you get there you better show man some signs if you expect him to believe on your wonderful and holy name. The Holy Spirit said: "When you get there you better perform some signs, so they can know just Who you are.

When you turn water into wine, show them your mastery over quality and that salvation is by your Word.

When you heal the nobleman's son, show them your mastery over time and distance and that salvation is by grace.

When you heal the paralytic, show them your mastery over long- term infirmity and that salvation is available to all.

When you feed the 5000, show them your mastery over quantity and that salvation brings satisfaction.

When you still the raging storm, show them your power over nature and that salvation brings peace.

When you heal the blind man, show them your power over darkness and that salvation brings light.

When you raise Lazarus from the grave, show them your power over death and that salvation brings life.

Use all of these signs to reveal your deity, that you truly are the Son of God. Use these signs so that they might believe and have eternal life through your name."

My brothers and my sisters, the Good News of Miracles is that they have significance for us even today.

You don't have talk about the miracles that Jesus performed 2000 years ago; tell unbelievers about the miracles that the Lord has performed in your life. Tell unbelievers, “Jesus________”. (You Fill In The Blank!)

Time Will Separate

Not everyone who enters the House of Worship enters to worship God. Some come because church going has become habitual to them, others, because church going carries along with it a measure of respectability in the community. There are those who faithfully share in the activities of the community of faith because it is an excellent opportunity to make or secure business deals. Some come to see if they can get something started. Some come because they do not want to miss out just in case something does get started.

However, Time Will Separate . . .

The real from the unreal,
The walkers from the talkers,
The workers from the shirkers,
The promise keepers from the promise breakers,
The genuine from the counterfeit,
The saints from the sinners,
The faithful from the faithless,
The lawful from the lawless,
The sacred from the profane,
The credible from the corrupt,
The dutiful from the devious,
The virtuous from the vindictive

Time has a way of revealing the hidden and the unknown. As time passes, heated situations will arise. And the mask that so many believers attempt to hide behind can only take so much heat, and then it begins to melt.

Do More...

Today I will...

Do more than exist-live.
Do more than hear-listen.
Do more than agree-cooperate.

Do more than talk-communicate.
Do more than grow-bloom.
Do more than spend-invest.

Do more than think-create.
Do more than work-excel.
Do more than share-give.

Do more than decide-discern.
Do more than consider-commit.
Do more than forgive-forget.

Do more than help-serve.
Do more than coexist-reconcile.
Do more than sing-worship.

Do more than think-plan.
Do more than dream-do.
Do more than see-perceive.

Do more than read-apply.
Do more than receive-reciprocate.
Do more than choose-focus.

Do more than wish--':believe.
Do more than advise-help.
Do more than speak-impart.

Do more than encourage-inspire.
Do more than add-multiply.
Do more than change-improve.

Do more than reach-stretch.
Do more than ponder-pray.
Do more than just live-live for Jesus.

WORDS

It has always been my amazement at the significance of words. Think of it:

The Son of God is called the Word (John 1:1)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The universe was created with a word (Heb. 11:3)

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

All things are held in existence by the word (Heb. 1:3)

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

God reveals himself to us through the word (1 Sam. 3:21)

And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Jesus healed and cast out demons with a word (Matt. 8:16)

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick

Faith is sustained by words (Heb 3:13)

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

We fellowship with God by the words of prayer;
We worship him through the words of song and confession and preaching;
Our relationships are all sustained and nurtured by words;
We speak our love to each other by words;
kings rise and fall by their words;
Politics, news, entertainment, business, education, international relations, even families and friendships are all possible because of words.

Language is God’s idea.
It belongs very close to who and what he is.
It has huge potential for good and catastrophic potential for evil.

The tongue, James says, is seemingly untamable.

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9-10).

All issues today, be it political, religious, educational, theological, etc
They all relate to the way we use words. We think them in our heads and we speak them with our mouths.

What would the world be like…?
Our homes,
Our churches,
Our schools,
Our communities…

If words were used the way Jesus used them?

That is not an easy question.

What say you?

I Hate You So Much Right Now

No, I didn't like what you told me last night.

Nor do I appreciate the fact that you made me look at myself in a flawed light. That's not what I have you here for. I hate you sooo much right now. Mirroring my own reflections. Angling it so I never miss a side of myself, even those sides long tucked away.

I hate you soooo much right now.

Making me re-live my past. The pain, the ridicule, the humiliation. You don't know what I had to go through to finally learn to disassociate myself from all that pain. And here you come, unyielding in presence, undaunted in mission. How dare you! Who are you to tell me that it’s OK to believe in things and people again? How dare you take me out of my safe hideaway and force me out in the open? Suddenly my sunshine turned to rain. Drowning rain or cleansing rain?
It’s not supposed to work like this. It wasn't supposed to be this way.

You took away my control of the relationship. You took the reigns right from my hands. Give me back my clothes. I am not used to be naked. Being this vulnerable. Out there. Out there in the folds of life.

I hate you soooo much right now.

What gives you the right to make me understand that I don't have to champion life alone? That I can ask for help and receive it. What gives you the right to give me the vehicle for appreciating love and understanding that to live love and lose is OK and that better days will come. That I can have hope. Don't you know that pain gives me a shield, that pain allows me the liberty to close myself, and the contempt that opening up that pain brings?

I hate you sooo much right now.

Damned Florence Nightingale, freaking goody two shoes.

I am a man, damnit. I was not raised to be concerned with intimate feelings. You can't simply show me how wrong I was to believe in a historical practice of assuming and not asking, critiquing and not supporting, of taking and not giving. Don't you dare tell me that what I learned from my father was wrong, what I learned from grand-father was wrong, what I learned from my uncles and brothers was wrong. You can't show me how to treat a woman; I have been doing it for years. Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think just because you are my mate that I should treat you uniquely? Do you think that I should treat you the way you want to be treated and not the way I want to be treated? You said that when you treat someone the way you want to be treated, it’s wrong because the way you want to be treated is different than the way I want to be treated. What a crock! You know you want to assume.

So, NO! I did not like what you told me last night.

And I truly hate you!

Damn you for draining my moat, for breaking down my walls of fortification, for stripping me of my armor and leaving me defenseless. I am in a relationship, damnit. I need my defenses. I need to protect my heart. I have to insulate myself from the hovering pain of failure, the uncompromising hurt of rejection. I NEED MY PROTECTION!

I hate you soo much right now!

Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; they should do even more to develop their inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like. There comes a time in everyone’s life when we must stop being judgmental of others and look into the mirror and be honest with ourselves and realize that we all have issues needing rectification. How we long for fair treatment from others, but do we give it? We hate those who base their judgments on appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, but are we quick to judge others using those standards? Fortunately, God judges by faith and character, not appearances. And because only God can see on the inside, only he can accurately judge people.

ONE

Left - Right
Up - Down
Top – Bottom
Old - New
Rich - Poor
Little - Big
Happy - Sad
Good - Bad
Hard - Soft
Rough - Smooth
Bitter - Sweet
Love - Hate
True - False
Tall - Short
Hot - Cold
East - West
Husband - Wife
Man - Woman
God - ?

And the scribe said unto Him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He: Mark 12:32

Racism Is Around Me Everywhere

Of human ignorance I am almost in despair
For racism is around me everywhere
But like they say sheer ignorance is bliss
Just like Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
Some people carry their honor in a flag
And of their Nationality they brag
They feel superior and they differentiate
And against those who are different they discriminate.

So many people still judged by their race
For such there never ought to be a place
'A fair go' those untruthful words I do recall
There is no such a thing as a 'fair go for all'.
Though we live in a so called democracy
Of racism we never will be free
They judge you by where you come from and the color of your skin
For many equality and respect seems impossible to win.
It's been awhile since the days of Martin Luther King
His name to it has a familiar ring
If against racism he did not choose to strive
Today the great man he would be alive.
So many holding the reins of power not spiritually aware
And racism is around me everywhere
And racism only leads to division and war
Just goes to show how ignorant some are.

This beautiful poem was written by a gifted poet from Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia and this gifted poet goes by the name Francis Duggan. I thank you for blessing us all with such a wonderful gift!

TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED

Stress is a word every adult, most teens and some children know and can relate to. It is a negative word. Stress leads to depression, interferes with productivity, takes away joy, slows down reflexes and boggles the thought process. No one enjoys stress, but few find a release from the tentacles it binds one with. However it is not necessary to allow stress to rule and ruin any part of your life. Below is, what I want to call a poem, which gives numerous reasons to not be stressed. I am sure everyone will find themselves in there somewhere. If not, just claim all of them.

Too Blessed to be Stressed

I am a problem solver
I am intelligent
I am loving
I am capable, worthy, and qualified
I am creative
I am an overcomer.
I can do it
I can make IT
I can ENDURE it
I am a child of GOD
I am rich with ideas, FRIENDS AND POSSIBILITIES
I am FOCUSED on my PRIORITIES
I am FORGIVEN
I am valuable and appreciated
I MAKE A DIFFERENCE
People are seeking m service
I am abundant
I am healed
I am always in the right place at the right time
I am a MAGNET for ABUNDANCE, PROSPERITY AND LOVE
I CAN BEGIN AGAIN
My pain can CHANGE
I am enough whether I am in a relationship or not
I have great ideas and follow through
I am IMPROVING EVERY DAY
I am getting stronger in my discipline and desire to let go of anything or anyone that is not for my highest GOOD.
I complete what I start
I am full of PEACE AND LOVE
I am led and fed by the HOLY SPIRIT

I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED

"FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING"

PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:
Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be patient
Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN WITHOUT TURNIPS:
Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:
Thyme for each other
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends

WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVETHERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.

WOMEN AS MINISTERS

"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law" (1 Corinthians 14:34).

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Timothy 2:11-12).

In these verses, Paul cannot be addressing women who were in the ministry, but rather those in the congregation who were out of order. How do we know this? We have many such proofs, many from Paul himself. Here is a partial list of women who were all in influential positions of leadership in the early church.

Pheobe (Romans 16:1-2): This woman was a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea, who was beloved of Paul and many other Christians for the help she gave to them. She filled an important position of leadership. It would be a difficult stretch of the imagination to say that this woman fulfilled her duties without ever speaking in the church!

Priscilla (Acts 18:26): Priscilla and her husband Aquila are often mentioned with great respect by Paul. Together they were pastors of a church in Ephesus, and were responsible for teaching the full gospel to Apollos. We are informed that they both taught Apollos, and pastored the church together. In fact, Priscilla is sometimes listed ahead of Aquila when their names come up. This has led some to speculate that of the two, she was the primary teacher and her husband oversaw the ministry. At any rate, we see here a woman in a very prominent position of teaching and pastoring. (Other references to Priscilla and Aquila are Acts 18:2, 18; Romans 16:3, and I Corinthians 16:19).

Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3): Here we see reference to two women who were "true yokefellow" and who labored with Paul in the advancement of the gospel.

Junia (Romans 16:7): In this verse we see Paul sending greetings to Andronicus and Junia, his "fellow-prisoners" who are of note among the apostles. Junia is a woman's name. In some modern translations, an "s" has been added (Junias) because the translators were so sure a woman could not be an apostle, that they assumed a copyist has accidentally dropped the "s." However the proper male ending would have been "ius," not "ias." No church commentator earlier than the Middle Ages questioned that Junia was both a woman and an apostle.

Though there were other women throughout the Bible in positions of leadership, such as prophetesses, evangelists, judges, leaders, etc., the above references should be enough to establish that women were indeed a vital and normal part of church leadership. Paul expected women to speak in the church, or else why would he have given the following directive? It would have been useless to give directions for women who were speaking in the church, if they were never allowed to do so.

1 Corinthians 11:5, "But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."

Furthermore, if Paul believed that all women should never teach or speak in church, why does he commend many women who did just that?

With all this in mind, what then do we make of the troubling verses that command women to be silent in the churches?

First of all, we must interpret those verses in light of what we have just established--that there were women in leadership positions of the church. Obviously, Paul is not writing to them. He is must be addressing another issue entirely--the women who were loud and unruly during the service, causing disorder and confusion.

When he wrote the Corinthians, he was dealing with a church that was very disorderly in their services. Much of the letter was spent correcting excesses and abuses. Some of these pertained to women in particular and some were to the entire church. Paul is not being prejudiced against women when he instructs the Corinthian women to keep silence. In the early church the seating arrangement was quite different from our modern day churches. Men were seated on one side of the church while the women and children were seated on the opposite side. This is still practiced in many cultures today.

The women of Christ's day were generally uneducated and usually only the men were privileged with an education. Due to this situation, when the church met the women were tempted to shout across the room and ask their husbands the meaning of whatever was being taught. This disturbed the service. Paul was simply saying during the service, "Women, keep your children quiet and you be quiet, and if you have anything to ask your husbands, wait until you get home." Because of the new equality that Christianity brought to women, it could be that some of them were taking their freedom too far, to the point of being obnoxious.

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he gave him a similar directive. Again, it is important to understand the context in which the letter was written. In I Timothy, a careful reader becomes aware that many severe heresies and false teachings that were being dealt with. We can draw a conclusion here that many of the proponents and victims of the false teachings were women. Timothy pastored in Ephesus, and it has been suggested that goddess worship might have played a large part in Paul dealing so severely with the women. Ephesus was a primary center of the worship of Diana or Artemis. The heresies being taught might have suggested that women were authoritative over men and had higher access to spiritual knowledge than men did.

Regardless of the particulars, in both cases we can see that Paul is dealing with specific incidents in specific churches for very particular reasons.

We must understand that many of Paul's epistles dealt with local problems and his commandments are not meant to be taken as "commandments" across the board for all situations. Rather, we are to seek the Lord for the basic principal that needs to be incorporated in our churches. Because of Old Testament precedents that had already been set, apparently it never occurred to Paul to re-establish the case for women in ministry.

Why would he need to?

The early church took it as a matter of course that Jesus would call and ordain anyone He chose--and that settled it! As a matter of fact, the Bible mentions a prophetess who was in the Temple when Jesus was brought there as a baby. Her name was Anna (Luke 2:25-35), and she was one of two people who recognized Jesus as the Messiah because of her sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Paul's writings are sometimes misunderstood today because we do not know all the details that led him to write as he did. We must rely on the Holy Spirit, and the rest of the testimony of Scripture to interpret how we are to apply these things to our everyday lives. Scripture should always be compared with other Scripture and the context taken into consideration. Even in Paul's day, there were those who tried to twist the meaning his words.

"...His (Paul's) letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16).

It is a fair conclusion that the testimony of the bulk of Scripture, church history and God's anointing upon them, all speak plainly for women being able to fulfill all positions of the five-fold offices of apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist and teacher.

IF MY PEOPLE

II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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 will heal their land."

America today is in trouble. Our country has shifted to a vile immoral country. America today has lost touch with the God of their forefathers and continues to spiral downwardly as a nation. I am doing this out of love and compassion for God's people and the country we live in. This is not to anybody or any group specifically, but a warning to your heart and mine. This verse is a promise God gave us, that he will keep, but there are conditions we must meet in this promise.

If my people.

You know the trouble with America today is not the unsaved. Its the Christians. The Bible tells us the lost people's jobs are to be wicked, and indeed they are wicked. Its the Christians who've allowed things to be this way.

That's who God's speaking to in this verse, is God's people. We have given up our role and many things in the worlds and sat down and flat out compromised with the world, allowing our testimonies and position on this earth to be watered down.

If my people.

We are the ones who didn't stand up for ourselves and allowed prayer and God to be taken out of the schools. We are the ones who have allowed this theory of evolution to be brought into our schools. This is where they teach the kids to doubt the Bible before they are even taught it. They are being taught that they started out as the slime of the earth, but are getting better. hat man developed his own rules and they have deemed it right in their eye's to do as they wish, and they are doing just that.

We have given over the government. You know all those who signed the Declaration of Independence, all but two people who signed it was active in their churches. Now a days we can't even get any of our government officials to get to church, much less listen to a church leader. This idea of separation of church and state, was indeed so there would be no church states, nor state churches. Not that anyone who's a Christian can't serve in government. We just turned over the government to the world, and watch as they usher in evolution in our schools, and support abortion, the killing of innocent babies.

We have turned over our court rooms to the world as well. You know before the civil war, you could not be a lawyer without studying the Bible. The reasoning was who could defend the law, without knowing the law giver? Now look at them. We have allowed them to continue to believe that man makes the laws, and man will defend the laws, and they will determine what is right and what is wrong, not God Almighty.

Psalms 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

We are part of the problem, but we are also part of the solution, as part of the promise God made to us. We must decide that we are God's people and we will not allow nor tolerate our country's downfall to Satan.

If my people, Which are called by My Name

Many people have forgotten that God called us out. He was searching for us before we was looking for Him. Christians, or so called Christians forget that we are representing Christ and God. When people see us, they are to see ambassadors for Christ. The word Christian means Christ-like.

But as a whole, when the world see's the word Christian, what do they see. Enough for them to scoff at us. You don't know how many times, that I've stated I was a Christian, that people would immediately start questioning me on things that other denominations do.

This comes about because people are not taught correctly in the Bible and properly discipled in it. They don't learn to read the Bible for them selves and hide it in their hearts so they will not go astray. The false teachings come from those who have not read the entire word of God, or have decided to pick and chose what they will or will not believe and this is part of our countries problem today.

Believe the Bible is the totally inspired word of God, and God has preserved it as he promises and that is has remained unchanged, as God has wanted it. But there are so called Christians out their who has declared it was their right to change the word of God, as they see fit. They have changed the meaning and came up with their own empty traditions. And they cling to their traditions and false religion like never before. They refuse to let go of those.

If my people, who are called by my name.

It breaks my heart constantly, that there are so many people who are willing to serve God, but they limit themselves by not reading and learning from the Bible what God wants them to do. There are many people who have the right intentions, but are not prepared, and go out in God's name and bring a bad name to Him, and dishonor them because they don't do it with the Father's help, but instead in their own flesh.

If my people, which are called by my name Shall Humble themselves

America today is a land of self pride, and we have forgotten to praise God. God has given this land, and expected this place we live in to give Him continual praise. We are a land of plenty and abundance, but we never given Him the thanks he so richly deserves. You look beyond our boarders and see the poverty and strive, and listen to us complain because we don't have enough.

We have plenty here, yet we are unsatisfied. Because we have put our treasures in the material things, and not put our treasure in heaven, where they will account to something. The problem with America, is we consider our not a needy people, thus we don't need God. And God hates pride, and until we do away with our pride, God will not heal our land. And that's not the world, who its commanded to humble ourselves in this verse. Its us Christians. We need to humble ourselves, and give God the praise he deserves for this great nation He has provided for us.

Now I know this may come as a surprise to some of you, but yes, Texans do sometimes have a pride problem. One Texas farmer was talking with another farmer from Oklahoma, "How big is your farm?" asked the Texan. "oh its big, "claimed the Sooner, "better then a thousand acres." Not to be outdone, the Texan replied, "Let me tell you what. I can get into my pickup at sunup, head west, and by sundown I'm still on my land." The Oklahoman thought for a moment and smiled. "you know, I had a pickup like that once!" WE all need to be humbled. Boastful pride and a self-sufficient attitude that ignores God will undermine our faith in His Word and thwart His blessing.

Everyone who is a Christian needs to humble themselves and do things God's way, not our way. America as a country, have come to the point of belief that we know more then God, and we can get it done without God. We look at ourselves and out past, and boat, what a good job we did. We didn't need God, we did it ourselves without realizing that God did all of it, and we was just allowed to be present when it did happen.

Reminds me of a story on pride. A frog was wondering how he could get away from the cold winter clime. Some wild geese suggested that he migrate with them. The problem, though, was that the frog couldn't fly. "Just leave it to me, " said the frog, "I've got a splendid brain." He thought about it and then asked two geese to help him by picking up a strong reed, each holding one end. The frog planned to hold on to the reed with his mouth. In due time the geese and the frog started on their journey. Soon they were passing over a small town, and the villagers came out to see the unusual sight. Someone cried out, "who could have come up with such a clever idea?" This made the frog so puffed up with a sense of importance that he exclaimed, "I did it." His pride was his undoing, for the moment he opened his mouth, he lost his hold and fell to his death.

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Before God will heal our land, we must remember our place in this world, and who's in charge. And it ain't us.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, And pray

Prayer is our biggest tool, God gave us. Its our direct line of communication to God. But we don't us it enough. The Bible says we have not, because we ask not. Pray without a doubt is something everyone can do and it does make a difference. But all of our prayer lives are something to be desired.

But you might be surprised how many people don't know how to pray. What is this prayer. Prayer is talking to God. As Shaun described it, "prayer is us getting our minds and hearts in line with the Will of God, so when it comes to pass, we receive the blessing of it, saying I prayed for that." To often people pray amist, and not for the glory of God.

One morning at the breakfast table a father asked God's blessing on the food as usual. In pious and exalting language he thanked the Lord for all His bountiful provisions. But when he started eating, grumbling about the poor quality of the food and complained about the way it was cooked. His teenager interrupted him. "Dad," she began, "Do you think God heard your prayer?" "Certainly," he replied confidently "And did He also hear you when you complained about the coffee and bacon just now?" she asked. "Why, of course!" he bellowed. "Then which of your statements did God believe?"

When we pray, do we just say some words, or do we actually ask and wait for an answer? In public prayer, are we just trying to impress someone else, or are we trying to talk to God? Do we pray like we believe God can and will answer our request?

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Our country fails around us, but we don't use our biggest tool we have. If we are really concerned for our country, we would be willing to pray for it. I think everyone in here would claim to love America. But As much as we love America, are you concerned to spend one night in prayer for America? Are you saying that you don't love America enough to take that time to humble ourselves and pray to God to heal this land?

When God was going to destroy Sodom Abraham had enough concern for those people to beg God not to.

Genesis 18:27 And Abraham answered and said Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which I am nothing but dust and ashes.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face

Out of all these things God had asked us to do, if we wanted Him to heal our land, this is the one, that Americans are most unwilling to do. Seek God's face? Why? It like a dog chasing a car, what happened when the dog catches the car?

Usually its going to require us doing something for God. My heart is to encourage people to do more for God, but I have learned something. You can not encourage them to do anything, they are not willing to do. Most people are unwilling to do anything for God. And when you seek God, and He answers, its usually go and do something. Because of this, most Americans are unwilling to seek God.

It puzzles me how our country, which boast of its great work ethic, and workaholics reigns supreme, how they are willing to work for themselves and refuse to do anything for God. We'll I would like to and its a noble idea, but I'm too busy. Can't fit God on my schedule. But yet we still want to ask God for things and expect him to do something.

Parents, you might understand this analogy. What would you do and feel like if you told your kids to say, oh, clean up their room. Simple request and not too much to ask. But they soon come up to you and ask for some money. You ask why, and its to go to the mall or the movies. Well is your room clean? I don't have time now, but I'll get to it as soon as I can fit it in my schedule. How do you feel then about giving them money to go out? How far off am I to what we do to God?

This is also the main cause of our country becoming what it is. People not doing what God wants us too. If more people seeked God, when our country was getting rid of prayer in school, would we have gotten rid of it? If more people had sought God how bad would our country be?

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

God said He will heal our land, IF we seek his face. And then he'll let us know what we can do, to help our country. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not asking everyone to become preachers and missionaries. God will call those people out. But God does have something for everyone to do. Everyone can learn how to witness to people. Everyone can find something to do for their church. Everyone can find something to do to life the pastors hands and his burden. Everyone can dive into their Bibles and leaner something. God will direct you in what place He wants you out and He will use you from there. If we love our country, we will seek out God's face, and see what He has for us to do. But that's up to you. If you would rather wait to work, I'm sure persecution will be coming to America soon enough. Would you rather work for God then, under those conditions, or try to prevent that from coming and work now. Seek God's face.

If my people, which are called bu my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways

America as we know it has always been proud of her freedom. And we are discovering a new freedom as of late. And that's the freedom to flaunt ones sins openly. Oh many talk shows do we have now. "What happens when two women love the same man, and that man is ugly, on the Next..." All kinds of filth on our TV and our lives. I know that in my young years, I'm seeing things I thought I would never see. I can't imagine the thoughts of the elder saints here tonight. I'm sure ya'll have definitely seen things in here you never thought we would come to.

And it goes full circle.

People have decided they have the right to determine what is right and what is wrong. So we have people choosing to kill their babies. We have people who are openly coming our with their lifestyles, and flaunting their evil ways. We had a president who was suppose to be the leader in who to run a home in our country, commit adultery and our country didn't do anything about it but make a joke. You think he turned away from his actions...no.

But as I said earlier, the wicked are doing what they are supposed to be doing. And that's being wicked. But also as I stated earlier, its the Christians who are to blame. WE have successful blended in with the world. That's not supposed to be the case. WE are suppose to be the light of the world and stand out. When people stand next to us, they are to see our lives as white as snow, and God should be able to convict them.

But when the world looks at the average professing Christian out there, they only see them going to church, then back in the world immediately as soon as they hit those doors. We have allowed ourselves to be so tolerant of the sin around us, we don't even notice it any more. We even have gone so far, as to harass those who are living a good live and telling them to make it they got to dip closer to the world. Heaven forbid! We are commanded, that God hates sin and we are to hate sin too, and have compassion on the sinner. How is America going to realize its doing something wrong, if God's people aren't saying or living like there is something wrong?

II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We need to turn away from our sins. We need to make sure that when people see us, they an image of Christ. I know we are not perfect, but we are to hate sin and try to get away from it. We need to let go of the sins that's holding us as slaves, and let America take notice that there is something different about the Children of God. Especially if we want America healed.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land

This promise was a simple, if you, then I will, statement. If we love America and truly want it to become better once again, then we must follow these conditions for God's promise to fall. If my people, which 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, forgive theirs sins, and heal their land.

That's cut and dry. God said he will here us in Heaven, forgive America and heal our land. But we must meet our end of the bargain. Otherwise the result might be like it was in Jeremiahs day.

Lets look at the possible result: Jeremiah 6: 15-16 (15) "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. (16) Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."

That looks like a close picture of America today. They have no shame in anything they do today. But the Lord has told us to walk in the old ways, walk the old paths and stay within them, then we shall find rest. But that's up to us, weather we walk according to the Bible, or if we can give up in America and continue the path of distruction America is heading for, and taking us with her.

Preacher's note: This message was delivered in several different places and one of my favorite messages, God has allowed me to preach. Unfortunately this message is not as powerful in written form as preached. This is one to look forward to in real audio or some sort media soon.

A True Patriot

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him. We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons. Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling This him "unpatriotic," let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.

How many of Wright's detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many. While words do count, so do actions. Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.

This piece ran in the Chicago Tribune on April 3, 2008.

Thank you Brothers Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss for sharing the truth with us all!

The KKK Disbands: Leaves Their Job To Black Folk

The KKK leader stepped to the podium, his hood lowered around his shoulders and a look of disgust on his face. He said, "Sorry guys but this will be our last meeting; we're going out of business."

A member stood up in back. "But why sir?"

The leader sighed, "Well, reverend, the Blacks are doing a better job getting rid of themselves than we ever did, so we are no longer needed."

There were rumblings and protest. The leader raised his hand to silence the Klan members, and said, "Their rap music says more vile things about Black women than we ever thought of."

The members grudgingly nodded in approval. The Imperial Dragon continued: "And their women write books and make songs that demean black men better than my two speech writers ever could, looking down at two men seated in front who lowered their heads.

"They shoot each other constantly ", he continued;" And as a group, they spend a huge amounts of money on cars, liquor, that stuff they call bling bling, and the proliferation of rap music -- as they talk about all that in their magazines -- and nobody needs us to talk about how a lot of their sorry butts keep playing the race and victim cards while complaining that other groups are surpassing them in economic development and supposedly getting more attention in schools. Hell, they even support a so-called "Black Hair" DVD that a white man is making money on , in four sequels at $20.00 a pop, talking about how Koreans have taken over the "black hair" industry without acknowledging that Black entrepreneurs had 100 years to get a monopoly or entrenchment in the industry that Madam C.J Walker founded 100 years ago, but got out-hustled and out-strategized while spending investment capital elsewhere. Let's face it, they're being hoisted by their own people."

Some members went looking for dictionaries, while most members nodded as it hit them that their job was finished; that Blacks had become their own worst enemy.

The leader shook his head. "It's time to go back to our regular lives as policemen, judges and congressmen, and leave the business of getting rid of Blacks to Blacks. They are just better at it than us."

He then threw his hood on the ground and walked off the stage. Thus ended the last KKK meeting.

There is a message here. I truly hope you are able fathom it and take something away from it. WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY!

Keep The Dream Alive!

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on Tuesday, January 15, 1929 at the family home, 501 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia. King, Jr. was the first son and second child born to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Also born to the Kings were Christine, now Mrs. Isaac Farris, Sr., and the Reverend Alfred Daniel Williams King.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s maternal grandparents were the Reverend Adam Daniel Williams, second pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and Jenny Parks Williams. Employed as sharecroppers on a farm in Stockbridge, Georgia his paternal grandparents were James Albert and Delia King.

He married Coretta Scott, on June 18, 1953 on the lawn of the Scott’s (Coretta's parents) home in Marion, Alabama. The Rev. King, Sr. performed the service, with Mrs. Edythe Bagley, the sister of Coretta Scott King as maid of honor, and the Rev. A.D. King, the brother of Martin Luther King, Jr., as best man.

Of the marriage four children were born, Yolanda Denise (November 17, 1955, Montgomery, Alabama), Martin Luther III (October 23, 1957, Montgomery, Alabama), Dexter Scott (January 30, 1961, Atlanta, Georgia), and Bernice Albertine (March 28, 1963, Atlanta, Georgia).

Education:

King began school at the age of 6 at Yonge Street Elementary School in Atlanta. Following Yonge School, he was enrolled in David T. Howard Elementary School, Atlanta University Laboratory School, and then attended Booker T. Washington High School. King had such high scores on the college entrance examinations in his junior year of high school that he was advanced to Morehouse College without a formal graduation from Booker T. Washington. Having skipped both the ninth and twelfth grades, Dr. King entered Morehouse at the age of fifteen.

In 1948, he graduated from Morehouse College with a B.A. degree in Sociology. That fall he enrolled in Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania. While attending Crozer, he also studied at the University of Pennsylvania. He was elected President of the Senior Class and delivered the valedictory address. He won the Peral Plafkner Award as the most outstanding student, and he received the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship for graduate study at a university of his choice. He was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Crozer in 1951.

In September of 1951, Martin Luther King, Jr. began doctoral studies in Systematic Theology at Boston University. He also studied at Harvard University. His dissertation, “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman,” was completed in 1955, and the Ph.D. degree was awarded on June 5, 1955.

Honorary Degrees

Dr. King was awarded honorary degrees from various colleges and universities in the United States and several foreign countries. They include:

Doctor of Humane Letters, Morehouse College

Doctor of Laws, Howard University

Doctor of Divinity, Chicago Theological Seminary

Doctor of Laws, Morgan State University

Doctor of Humanities, Central State University

Doctor of Divinity, Boston University

Doctor of Laws, Lincoln University

Doctor of Laws, University of Bridgeport

Doctor of Civil Laws, Bard College

Doctor of Letters, Keuka College

Doctor of Divinity, Wesleyan College

Doctor of Laws, Jewish Theological Seminary

Doctor of Laws, Yale University

Doctor of Divinity, Springfield College

Doctor of Laws, Hofstra University

Doctor of Humane Letters, Oberlin College

Doctor of Social Science, Amsterdam Free University

Doctor of Divinity, St. Peter’s College

Doctor of Civil Law, University of New Castle, Upon Tyne

Doctor of Laws, Grinnell College

Career:

Martin Luther King, Jr. entered the Christian ministry and was ordained in February 1948 at the age of nineteen at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia. Following his ordination, he became Assistant Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. After completing his studies at Boston University, he accepted the call of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He was the pastor of Dexter Avenue from September 1954 - November 1959, when he resigned to move to Atlanta to direct the activities of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. From 1960 until his death in 1968, he was co-pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church and went on to being a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

His Death:

On the evening of April 4, 1968, Dr. King was shot while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. King was in Memphis to help lead sanitation workers in a protest against low wages and intolerable working conditions. James Earl Ray was arrested in London, England on June 8, 1968, and on March 9, 1969, before coming to trial, he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to ninety-nine years in the Tennessee State Penitentiary.

His Speeches:

Dr. King’s speech at the March on Washington in 1963, his acceptance speech of the Nobel Peace Prize, and his final sermon in Memphis are among his most famous Speeches:

(From the speech “March on Washington”)

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed; ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day, even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”

“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today I have a dream that one day down in Alabama with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with the little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today.”

“This hope is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the south with. And with this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

“...And so let freedom ring, from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that. Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and mole hill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring¼And when we allow freedom to ring – when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”

(From the Acceptance Speech, The Nobel Peace Prize, 1964)

“I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept the idea that the ‘isness’ of man’s present nature makes him morally incapable of reaching up for the eternal ‘oughtness’ that forever confronts him. I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsam and jetsam in the river of life unable to influence the unfolding of events which surround him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality.”

“I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of a thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final world in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger that evil triumphant.”

(From the sermon “I’ve Been To the Mountaintop,” April 3, 1968)

“...That’s the question before you tonight. Not, ‘If I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to my job?’ ‘Not, if I stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to all of the hours that I usually spend in my office everyday and every week as a pastor?’ The question is not, ‘If I stop to help this man in need, what will happen to me?’ The question is, ‘If I do not stop to help the sanitation workers, what will happen to them?’ That’s the question.”

“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation. And I want to thank God once more for allowing me to be here with you.”

“...And they were telling me, now it doesn’t matter now. It really doesn’t matter what happens now. I left Atlanta this morning, and as we got started on the plane, there were six of us, the pilot said over the public address system. ‘We are sorry for the delay, but we have Dr. Martin Luther King on the plane. And to be sure that all of the bags were checked, and to be sure that nothing would be wrong on the plane, we had to check out everything carefully. And we’ve had the plane protected and guarded all night.”

“And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?”

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop and I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will, and He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”