The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4: 18-19

It’s Friday night, just got paid lalala. I can’t remember the rest of the words but I remember hearing that song when I was a little kid, I had no job and I wasn’t going anywhere but I sure could dance in front of the television. I saw something interesting and I just thought I would share it with you. The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. What happened was I read the second line first, where it spoke about the darkness and a person stumbling but not knowing what made them stumble. It made me think about walking through the house at night and tripping over something, you know when you stump your toe. But I still continue to walk in the darkness because the light hurts my eyes. Even though I know I could slip on something, fall over something, I still walk in the dark because it’s easier to figure my way through the darkness not knowing what is ahead then to turn the light on and for a short second and let the light blind me.

I think life is like that, sometimes we feel better walking in the dark because we are afraid of what the light may expose. Think about it the night represents fun, we all like to have fun and act like we don’t have a care in the world. The night also represents sleep, sleep is so comfortable, and rewarding. In our dreams we can often escape all of life’s troubles, for a few hours a night we are free from our day. Which brings me to the day, the day is where the sun shines, waking you up disrupting your sleep, your comfort. The day is where you work, work, work and work. During the day you can bet that your boss will want something from you, that your friends want something from you, it just seems like you’re doing a lot during the day.

Well Righteousness is hard, it’s work and we can be lazy people. It’s hard to do the right thing sometimes, because most people will do the wrong thing and even when you do right you may be wronged. So what’s the point in that, might as well stay in the dark right. I wish it was that easy, no matter how dark the night is there’s a bright day after that. And during that bright day we have some things to face, like ourselves. Our fears, the triumphs and life we wish to lead. We can’t make our most important decisions in the dark so maybe it’s time we start at least trying to live in the light. Peace and Grace be unto you.

If you are on a road to nowhere, find another road.

Stop Playing with my emotions. Amil has come out of hiding and hopped on the a milli beat. Lil Wayne and Bangladeshi got the whole game on fire trying to spit on this beat! This is insane, when is the last time you even heard Amil drop a 16. I can’t recall, last time I saw her she was doing some interview about how the Roc broke up but before that, I think I was in high school. Dog I’m in law school now that was years ago WTF. Anyway shout out to Ms. Virgo for the link. here you go:

Link

Here is Amil, if you forgot who she is!

I can’t call it people. Everywhere we turn we are confronted with race issues. It’s really sad that racism plays such an integral role in our lives but I guess when you live in a country founded upon racist principles this was bound to happen. Walmart shows good judgment I think by removing this comic if they are receiving backlash from people of color who feel it is offensive. Have you ever been to Walmart; I know in Philadelphia if they lost the support of their black customers they would go broke! LOL!

To me there’s a deeper issue here; I am not familiar with this comic book and obviously not familiar with how Mexicans perceive it. However I am familiar with the controversy over black and brown relations. I’m appalled by it because I feel all people are created equal no matter what their race, religion or any other affiliation that may make them different may be. It hurts even more when you see two groups of people who are constantly oppressed and instead of binding together, building an alliance and attacking systematic ills of our society. I often hear things that contradict such a beautiful plan of action.

A few nights ago I was watching the Michael Baisden show on TVOne and George Wilborn was asking black people on the street if they would be mad if Latino people had more positions of power. Some of the answers were ignorant in my opinion and they sought to create a divide between these two ethnic groups. Do blacks and browns not know that they are both derivitives of the African Diaspora and are one in the same?

Please do not take that comment as disregarding the rich cultures that both of these particular groups have to offer but I am merely talking about their ancestry. The conditions for both groups here in America are very similar, both groups are losing their young men to gang violence, prisons and the drug trade. Both groups are losing their young women to sexually transmitted diseases. Women of color whether they are Black or Latino are disrespected in the media and often unfavorable images are shown of them. Mistreated in the workplace, a severe housing dilemma and the similarities go on and on. Where does the divide stop? When do we as a people living in this land together, praying to the same God begin to follow those words in our dear Holy books and bind together to create a better future for our children. When?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Wednesday it removed the comic book “Memin Pinguin” from its stores after receiving complaints the popular Mexican character was a racist depiction of blacks.

The series started 60 years ago in Mexico, and the main character, Memin Pinguin, is a black Cuban-Mexican boy with enlarged lips who often gets into mischief.

Wal-Mart recently started offering the Spanish-language comic in parts of California, Texas and Miami, where the giant retailer serves large populations of Hispanic customers.

“We understand that Memin is a popular figure in Mexico. However, given the sensitivities to the negative image Memin can convey to some we felt that it was best to no longer carry the item in our stores,” said Lorenzo Lopez, a spokesman for Wal-Mart.

“We apologize to those customers who may have been offended by the book’s images,” Lopez added.

A black woman in Houston told the Houston Chronicle this week she complained about the comic books after seeing them at a Wal-Mart.

“I said, wait a minute: Is this a monkey or a little black boy?” Shawnedria McGinty told the newspaper. “I was so upset. This is 2008.”

Many Mexicans argue Memin Pinguin is misunderstood in the United States and that he is a lovable character and not a racist depiction of blacks.

Memin Pinguin was at the center of a controversy in 2005, when the Mexican postal service issued a series of stamps featuring the character.

President George W. Bush called the stamps offensive, which put him at odds with Mexico’s then president, Vicente Fox.

Link

Another loser who goes to jail. The prosecution argued that Neil Entwistle was in debt and upset with his sex life so he killed both his wife and baby. The defense claimed that the wife actually killed herself and the baby and the man attempted to cover it up to restore her honor.

Both stories sound a little suspect in my opinion but judging for the Defense’s lack of a credible case it is safe to assume that this sicko killed both his wife and child.

How does on bring themself to kill their own flesh and blood. How do you kill your Queen, the very woman you have chosen to mother your understanding. Good riddance to this jerk but once again I think we need to look into programming in prisons that helps cure these people who are walking our streets with mental illnesses. Only a mental illness could drive a man to be such a heartless, cruel bastard. Strong language, I know but how dare someone take away the life of another. How dare a man give that poor baby life and then take it away. It is truly sick and I can not for the life of me understand such issues.

People like Entwistle should just!

No need in taking good people with you!

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6        “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord “and not a God far away? Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the Lord “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 23: 23-24

Anybody remember that episode from the Cosby’s when Cliff screams out CHALLENGE!!!!! I just remember the challenge part, I really don’t remember the rest of the episode but today’s C is the Challenger. Another component of the 5 C’s, but this one keeps us on our toes. We all have dreams, goals and aspirations. Sometimes there are people in our lives who are already reaching some of the goals we wish to obtain or they know our goals and they continuously check up on us to make sure we are doing what we need to do. When I think of a challenger I think of a close brother of mine CT. The man just graduated with his MBA, has a great job traveling the country and he is continuously meeting new heights. Not only am I able to watch him soar and quite frankly do his thing but he is also the one who is always pushing me to achieve my own goals. When I was in undergrad it was annoying because I was slacking on my potential so at that point he was my challenger and confronter. But today I respect it because his challenges make me rise to the occasion.

Of course God challenges us, he challenges us everyday. In fact I believe that when we are going through our most troubling times, he is challenging us. Challenging us to remain faithful to his existence and principles even though we can not see him. The above scripture is a challenge to me, words to make me better. We have a choice to be of the flesh or of the spirit, to be of the word or of the world. To see those who are spiritually minded and live in peace is a challenge, a goal for us to reach. And since God is everywhere he is always challenging us and he sees when we rise to the occasion when we are slacking. Today let’s e thankful for the challengers in our lives, life’s like a competition, lets win this race. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.

I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say. - Geronimo

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6: 10-11

Ok so I’m not having a bad day, just one of those days where things are not working out like I would like them to. The stars are not aligned so to speak. I felt myself becoming overwhelmed in the nonsense and I decided to be late to my next meeting and write this message. It’s not a real meeting more like us going over stuff we already know, so they can miss me for 10 minutes so I can get my head right. Put on the full armor of God, I dig it, because the Lord will protect us. Right now as I type these words and today’s dramas are stressing me two things come to mind. 1. It could be way worst, trust me I know. 2. I think about the experience i had last night with my students and I am excited about what I will be able to teach them.

Stress is the devil’s best friend. It makes your blood pressure rise, you become irritated. You start worrying. While in church the Pastor said if you’re going to pray, don’t worry. If you’re going to worry, don’t pray. Great words on Sunday morning but everyday it is a struggle to remember the good that you have been taught to make it practical. So today even though I would like to blow my lid a little bit and I might just end up doing that. I am thankful that I can take a few seconds out of my day and remember that I have been taught a better way. That I do have options and that if I allow the Lord to strengthen me , then there’s no fuzzy wuzzy obstacle that I can’t overcome. FUZZY WUZZY, you liked that didn’t you, well it made me smile. Peace and Grace be unto you!

No matter how the long the winter, the spring is sure to follow.

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, Psalms 34:11-12

This is officially the latest Pardon me message in the history of messages. I had the longest day ever and I was constantly on the go so I had no time to write. Around 4pm I was like this is ridiculous, am I ever going to get a chance to write today I thought to myself. Then I thought about where I was going and I realized that something that would happen later on in the day would inspire this message. And what more than our children and their beautiful, innocent faces teach us about inspiration and the hope of great things to come.

I will be teaching these 32 students for the next 5 weeks and if tonight was any indication of what my summer will look like then I can expect an engaging life changing experience. I immediately thought of finding a scripture that deals with our children for they represent our futures. And hopefully the wisdom we have gained over the years can help guide them on the right path and away from some of the mistakes we have made. There were a variety of students there from various backgrounds but as I reflect; no matter who each of us pray to, God brought us together. He brought me to teach them something, and from their youthfulness he wants me to gain something from them. I am more than willing and more than ready; hopefully we all as God’s children will learn the lesson from above and see many good days. Peace and Grace be unto you!

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, and disciplined.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 1: 8

Okay, mission wallet has been accomplished. Since Wednesday morning my wallet has been sitting in the Jamaica train Station office, I picked it up Friday night. God definitely looked out for me because I was so not interested in buying another monthly train pass. Happy Belated Father’s Day to the fathers, I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. Father’s Day was interesting for me because for the first time I noticed how Father’s Day can get glossed over. I wrote a piece to my father and posted it on the blog titled “TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER”. He said it brought a tear to his eye, he looked a little emotional as we embraced and at that moment I was glad that I had not only written something about his impact on my life but I was happy that I had shared it with him.

The radio did not blare music that represented fathers day and in fact I heard more conversations about absentee fathers. Interesting how we dwell in what we do not have rather than being thankful for what we do have or what we plan to be. I chose this verse because we have two fathers and I wish to honor them both. Our Father who art in heaven is always there for us, so if we do not have a physical Pops here on earth, we can always look to God and learn from the instruction he has given us. I can also look to the instructions my father has given me over the years and hope to utilize the skills that he has given me to make me a better man. For the absentee father because I have one of those too, he also gave instruction, more like instruction of what not to do. Either way it was a lesson learned and I am thankful for any wisdom that I may receive. Today is not Father’s day but everyday is Father’s Day so I honor my Pops at home and OUR Father in Heaven. Peace and Grace be unto you!

When we can not change a situation, resolution comes through the way we choose to handle it within ourselves.

Ps. This is the last birthday shout out of the month, Steve -O I see you man. I got to bring Steve’s birthday in last night with him, congrats on another year my brother, may God bless all of your endeavors.