I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well.Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.”Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. Isaiah 5 : 1-5

Think of the above story as if it were your life. You have put alot of work into your life and at times it does not seem that your life yields success. But that is no reason to destroy your life. Do not ask, what else could you ahve done with your life. Maybe you should let go of some of the gardening practices that you are using. Let go of some of the chains that we have bound ourselves too. Free your mind and start anew!

The rain is pouring, smacking the streets violently while a track from Isaac Hayes album Hot Buttered Soul plays. Feels like a defining moment in ones life, the rain always seems to signify the end of one and the beginning of something else. I was reading Iyanla Vanzant’s Acts of Faith yesterday and she was talking about letting go. Whether you are letting go of a relationship, or relinquishing the psuedo control that you thought you had on your life, the issue is that we may have to let go. But letting go sounds insane, life’s troubles feel like your hanging from a cliff, your whole life depends on the moment you are in right now or so you think.

Who wants to let go, what ever you’re holding onto may feel to you like the bane of your existence. This is the mental build up that we give things, whether they are material or just things we feel like we can not live without. I read once, in order to receive you must strip yourself of all your possessions mentally and still believe that you have or will have again. This was a book dealing with taoism, it had some extremely great lessons. I have not been on my daily grind of writing this week. Check the blog, it’s updated sparingly. Partially it may be because I have no computer but more importantly it’s because I’m letting go. While letting go we do not know what door God will open but we have to have faith that he is about to show off in our lives. We have to have faith that these new beginnings, these new happenings though they may bare a dark moment, or a rainy day; there will be light in the end, a sun that shines upon our faces as we cry tears of joy. Peace and Grace be unto you!

You know, life is bound to be a roller-coaster if you keep looking back. A life that matters is focused on where you’re headed, not where you’ve already been.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”- Ephesians 3:20-21

Do not say that you do not have time for God. The busiest of men will have the most leisure, and the laziest will always be short of time, for the former utilizes time and the latter only wastes it. If you really want God, you will find time for Him. - Hinduism

I’ve said many times that I respect people of all faiths and I admire the passion and faith that resides within people who live spiritual lives no matter what their affiliation. Often on my website I quote members of other religious affiliations but I have always wanted to show here in the pardon me message how similar the teachings of these different religions can be. Today I included words from the Hindu culture, Islamic faith and my own faith of Christianity. The messages are so similar in nature in that they ask us to love God, to make time for God and honor his words.

Upon further study you see that the more spiritual members of these different faiths look to their word to live peaceful, love-filled lives and seek to help one another. At this very moment a friend of mine who shares a different spiritual background is ministering to me about the works of God. She could very well be the brother or sister next you in church who is praying for you but she is not because she follows the Hindu faith. Does that mean she does not have a true connection with God. Earlier today I was reading 2 Timothy and Paul was speaking of false teachings and people who will hold so fast to religion and doctrine and not the holy spirit and how this was not the way. This made me think of a question I asked a mentor of mine. I said “do you believe that Muslims are not God’s children, that people of other faiths are damned. I asked could it be possible that we all are praying to the same God and calling him different names”.

He replied to me that many of God’s people may very well be practicing in a different fashion than we are. He also said something to the effect that many who say they are God’s people are in fact not and will be judged on judgment day accordingly. I sat and I reflected on what he said, and today I am taking a step towards loving God’s people, all of God’s people no matter what race, religion or cultural background. Ask yourself this “are you God’s people because you call yourself a Christian or a Muslim or are you a child of God because you follow his commands and teachings while you spend your time here on earth? Peace and Grace be unto you!

The sun can give heat and light to the whole world, but he cannot do so when the clouds shut out his rays. When egotism veils the heart, God cannot shine upon you.

As you will read in the story below a grandmother was jailed for beating her 16 year old grandaughter who she caught having sex with another female. Let me say this again, the grandmother was jailed for beating her daughter who she caught having sex in her home that she pays the bills for.

Child Protective Services may close the blog down today because I say “BEAT THAT CHILD!” I’m 24 years old and if I get caught tomorrow having sex in my mother’s house, there will be hell to pay. Once again I am 24 years old however I have enough respect and I know better than to try and have sex in my parent’s home. I know the consequences, my mother wouldn’t play that at all.

More people need to beat their disrespectful kids, I do not agree with excessive beating but in my day I was beat with switches, extension cords, rulers. My parents picked up whatever was in hands distance. I never ended up in the hospital and I also learned valuable lessons, respect and the difference between right and wrong. The problem today is people don’t beat their kids. It’s not politically correct, hence we have rising incarceration rates because children are going out committing stupid crimes because they do not know any better.

The lesson today is: BEAT YOUR KIDS, YOU MAY SAVE THEM FROM THE COPS BEATING YOUR KIDS OR EVEN WORST JAILING YOUR KIDS!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9thhiTUKFs4]

Reading woman jailed in beating of granddaughter, 16

Beddell told police that she had done nothing wrong and said she should have been allowed to discipline her granddaughter as she saw fit.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=95664

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. Psalm 119: 5-9

You ever look at a train yard while passing through a major station. It looks sorta desolate, almost like an abandoned piece of space. Ironically this piece of space is used everyday to transform someone’s dreams, put food on the table for small children and a host of other things through its power to transport people to and from a variety of places. Our minds have that same ability, while sometimes they feel dark, look abandoned it is still the only key we have towards reaching our goals.

Our mind coupled with God’s word can and will take us to another level, an idea of success that we have yet to fathom. When I first started reading the above scripture I was more dis-satisfied with myself than anything. The word shame resonated with me then I began to think of all the principles and nobility I had been raised with in understanding God’s word, myself and how I have often strayed from that path. But then I looked at the train yard and I thought of all its potential, I wondered where would people get if they just sat in the wreckage of the train yard and never ventured onto the tracks, or if they got off at one stop, all they had to do was get on the next moving train. How can a young man keep his way; by living according to the word. In order to live according to the word we must see our mistakes and use them as a guide of what not to do but we can not dwell on them because then we have just done two unproductive things and that definitely does not lead to a productive move. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Copying everyone else all the time, the monkey one day cut his throat.

I love to big up people doing big things in our local communities and spreading knowledge to our people. Common is always pushing the envelope of awareness and integrating our communities with a sense of pride. If you are not familiar, I suggest you get familiar with his non profit Common Ground Foundation. There are several programs that this organization uses to empower our youth, I want to thank Common and the other artists who recognize that we need organizations like this to build our communities together!

Mission Statement:
The Common Ground Foundation is dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth in the United States.

Vision Statement:
The Common Ground Foundation was created by Hip Hop artist, actor and children’s author Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known as “Common”. Common’s social-conscience message serves as inspiration for equality, opportunity and hope among youth in underserved communities. The Foundation is committed to empowering youth in urban neighborhoods and providing life skills needed to achieve their dreams.

Click here to donate
http://www.commongroundfoundation.org/donate.html

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103: 13-18

We flourish like a flower of the field, our beauty sits for all to see. But just like that it’s gone, and its place remembers it no more, those who marveled at the flower forget the flower was even there. What was the source of the beauty, was it genuine, was it God filled or was it an arrogant self loving flower, one with no regard for the flowers around it or the insects who wanted to taste its sweet nectar to live. Forgive me I’m listening to Miles Davis as I write this, him and Coltrane make me want to sound prolific and artsy lol.

What I like about the this scripture is God sees us from dust to dust. Our whole life span is watched through his eyes, our highs, our lows, whatever they may be he sees them. Sometimes we feel on top of the world but when we do without giving the proper thanks we can find the rug stripped right from under us. Those who were there popping bottles with us are suddenly not there anymore, they remember us no more. But the word says the Lord’s love is everlasting, that not only will we live good under his care but our children’s children as well. Just because we chose to recognize that there is a being that is supreme to us and we allow others to see that in us. We hold true to the principles that he lays out for us, living righteously, caring for one another, and just spreading love and his words of kindness and nobility. I think then and only then can we be that beautiful flower, and no winds or any type of creature can remove us from our splendor, if that makes sense. Peace and Grace be unto you.

This and that palm tree, from which one will you tear a leaf; Here and there a road, which one will you take?

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.- Romans 15:2

“Build him up, publicize him, make him a celebrity!” Those are the words of Malcolm X and they have nothing to with this scripture but they came to mind when I read build him up. Today really is not about me nor was yesterday. It is still about my brothers who have graduated and are starting a new chapter in their life. I had a rough night last night, celebrating can get out of hand sometimes. Then I woke up this morning and I was being mentally selfish. I had selfish thoughts, I was thinking about my own happiness. But the truth is today is not about me, we are about to celebrate with a bbq and enjoy a few more festivities before i head back to NY to be with my family.

Build him up; that’s what we need to do for each other. Before writing this message I was talking with one of my sisters. I’ll commonly refer to my closest friends as brothers and sisters because I really do believe we have that vibe. They say we are all children of God so we are brothers and sisters. Either way she was building me up, speaking the truth as she sees it. She always does this, she’s a great friend. I have to make sure I do the same. Not build people or myself up with false hopes and empty rhetoric but more so truth. Last night my brother and I had a deep talk, there’s been a lot of deep moments going on lately but reading today’s scripture lets me know we are on the right path. We are building each other up! Peace and Grace be unto you!

God is good, all the time!

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3: 5-10

I was looking through the bible for some words of joy, some words of praise because I feel blessed in a lot of ways. I read a topic called right living and figured I would check it out. As I started reading the above passage I was saying to myself “word, this is true, but I’m not about to write about this with my imperfect self”. Then I thought there must have been a reason that I was drawn to this specific passage and God knows that I am far from perfect so I can at least touch on it because it did speak to me.

What I immediately gained from reading these words and having gone to church and hearing the preacher’s talk about the days when they were in the streets is that it is all a process. No one became holy and sanctified over night. But see that word process becomes a crutch for me, I can’t speak for others. As long as something is a process, that is not delineated with a specific time frame we can continue to relapse and do what we feel because their is no clock that we are working on. It’s easy to say that our own conscience should be the clock but it’s not that simple. Over the years I have created many destructive habits, they haven’t destroyed me yet so I continue on that path. Having a renewed love for God but still battling with other temptations. I don’t really have a purpose for today’s message, more of my own confession. In the back of my mind I am asking myself, if I truly want to walk on the right path and receive God’s blessings why am I stalling in the process? Peace and Grace be unto you.

When the cock is drunk, he forgets about the hawk.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. I Corinthians 13: 1-3

I never really talk to much about love, yet my heart is filled with love. Sometimes I try to ignore the heart, I remember reading in the bible somewhere that the heart can deceive you. Please, I might have read and experienced that in some form or fashion (LOL). However the love verse in the bible is one of my favorites, it follows right after the above verse and it speaks volumes to what love really is rather than the superficial love we see on television or possibly chase in our own relationships. Today’s verse to me more so resonates with love as it relates to your passions. How love relates to the driving forces in your life.

Love is the basis for creation, when you love something you nurture it. You care for it, and do anything in your power to see it grow. This may be a person, this may be an idea, or this can be one of your favorite pastimes or hobbies. The scripture tells us we can do all things but without love we have nothing. Look at rich people who have the world at their feet but they still commit suicide, use drugs and destroy their bodies; for what. Listen to some of their interviews and you will hear that they lack love in their heart. Not love in the sense of a significant other but the love that you feel when you are trying to achieve a great feat. In order to grow something, anything, we need love; our love is the passion that drives us past our fears and towards our goals. Peace and Grace be unto you.

Time’s a wasting, don’t you waste your time young man!

I have been following this story on the blogs and I just finished reading an article on CNN about it. The gentleman Joshua Packwood had this to say about some of his peers “They approached me and said, ‘Yeah, I have a problem with you being valedictorian. I know you’ve earned it and even though I know you on a personal level - I like you a lot - but it disturbs me that out of roughly 3,000 black men - there’s not one that’s done as well as or better than you academically,’ ” says Packwood.

I think that’s the wrong way to look at this situation. The young man comes from an impoverished family and if there is one thing I know America hates just as much as Black people, it’s poor whites. I remember being a kid and watching Roots, there’s a scene in there, it escapes me now. But it alluded to poor whites and black folks banding together in the south.

I’m indifferent about this gentleman, I think his success is something to be marveled at no matter what his race is. Typically when there is a comparison about black and white children and their academic success we look to the failed school systems in urban areas that produce young black children and the well equipped schools of the suburbs that produce young white children. There is a learning gap, not because black children are not smarter but because there is a lack of quality teachers and access to resources in said public schools.

Packwood’s story is interesting though because he grew up poor, lacking privilege and it was actually a black middle class family who helped him get to where he is today. I don’t like the idea of brothers diminishing their own efforts because a white man is the valedictorian of their school. As someone else said later on in the article, the gentleman of Morehouse need to work harder. Not because white boys are taking their spots but because the work ethic that they create for themselves makes them want to work harder! Congratulations to Joshua Packwood on his accomplishment.