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.

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11

First I want to send a special happy bornday shout out to my brother from another Darian Mark Joel Roopnarine, may God bless your day brother and I thank him for keeping us meshed like two trains that collide and the metal melts into each other. (Pause) That was vivid, lol, but the month of June is the birth month to my closest brothers so I just want to acknowledge the iron that sharpens me, shout out to to Mo Freezy. Now that I am done with my intro (lol), I chose this particular scripture today because the last line spoke to me. It says we should encourage one another and build each other up. How real is that, I mean how genuine of a word to tell us that we need not be so worried about ourselves but look to encourage our brothers and sisters and build them up.

This morning while building with Darian we spoke about how there is a saying that the sun don’t shine forever but that is simply not true. The sun shines while we are asleep, while we are awake and it wasn’t until right now that I realize that our son is our Lord and Savior. When it seems that times are dark, the sun still exists, it is just preparing us. Preparing us for more battles that we have to fight, more greatness that we have yet to achieve. So I put the scripture together and it is clear that God has lit us with his light not only to light our dark paths but to light those around us. You might hear a good word, some words of wisdom and selfishly think that it does not apply to you. Does it not apply to your friend who is struggling, the man on the corner asking for change. Many have given their lives so that we can be where we are today, Jesus was crucified so that we could put forth good works in the name of God and our sins would be cleansed. Let us continue to build each other up, for without you there is no me. Peace and Grace be unto you!

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-3

I told you I would revisit this scripture because I feel it is so rich with knowledge and understanding if only we allow the wisdom to be applicable in our lives. As I was riding the train this morning it was raining, the beautiful blue skies had turned a stark grey. Mentally I prepared for the gloom, in the Western world some tend to de-value the rain and associate it with sadness. However, it’s funny that in other cultures the rain is honored, it is seen as a blessing from the Supreme Being. So all this thinking about the weather made me think of the storm of life and brought me back to this very scripture.

There is time to plant and a time to harvest. We can’t plant all of the seeds that we want into our lives but without the rain they will not grow, our harvest will not flourish. The rain in your life is the same way, it is vital for your growth and continued living. You ever see someone you love wet with rain on their face, with their smile you are reminded of life and growth. Whether the rain is a golden yellow with the light from the sun or that dark grey from the clouds it is still serving a purpose in your life at that moment. Allow yourself to be immersed in the rain, cherish the experience because it is only making you stronger and more beautiful. I think of the storms that I have seen in life, I walked out of every storm a better man. A step closer to the man that God wanted to me be. We are his crops, and without the rain that he showers into our lives we cannot grow and be the full blessing that he wants us to be. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Patience can cook a stone.

God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” 2 Chronicles 1: 11-12

There’s a lot that resonates with me in this one so just let me rock for a second. Seek and ye shall find, ask and you shall be given but at this moment I’m reminded of the movie I Robot. Will Smith was speaking to an illusion and he had to ask the right question to be granted with an understanding. By no means am I comparing God to the computer generated image on the movie but the lesson is still ringing true in my head. What is the question, what is it that you are asking for. Only then can we gain understanding. I guess it wouldn’t be called wisdom or understanding if it was simple and easy to grab because I am often confused. And with the world behaving in its own ignorance it almost seems as if wisdom is no longer a necessity, I know only a fool would think that but I’m not afraid to say that I can be a fool sometimes.

Sometimes, I pray and ask God for things, I noticed my prayers for other people seem to be answered very quickly. However my prayers for my own gain may take a little longer or may have not come to fruition as of yet. So I have to ask myself what am I asking for. Solomon asked for wisdom, sometimes wisdom can be a lonely place but I read once that the Lord separates us, that he takes us out of the crowd so that we can do his will. So while you’re alone, he is preparing you for something greater, but that’s another topic. Back to Solomon, his heart was pure while asking for wisdom to grow his people. Just a thought yall but maybe it is not that God does not hear us and is not answering us, its just that we have yet to begin to ask the right questions. Peace and Grace be unto you!

The teeth are smiling, but is the heart?

I understand I’m finning to be a grandfather… And I’m so proud, I can say that in many ways. I can say that in many ways, I can say I’m so happy and I’m so proud. Son I won’t give you any direction in Parenting at this stage because I think its gonna come to you like it came to me. See you came to me and your mom from the spiritual world we just the physical parents you know. God loaned you to us it’s God’s spirit we the physical parents you know. - Pops a.k.a. Lonnie Lynn (Common’s Pops)

My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2: 1-5

The book of Proverbs is rich with guidance and tutelage on how to be filled with wisdom and enjoy life. So for me today’s scripture is more of a series of steps that will guide us to wisdom and happiness.

Pardon me, while writing this message I just received terrible news and I would be untrue to myself and my walk with our Creator if I did not address how I am feeling. I still feel that the word gives us an understanding for life, the word gives us wisdom and knowledge so that we may grow and live harmoniously in this world. But the word also tells us “thou shall not kill”, and we live in a time where the life expectancy of young black men is getting lower and lower everyday. A pastor once said that the church has left black men in the cold; that as a group of people we do not reach out to our brothers on the corner. He may have been right!

Sean Bell was murdered in cold blood by people who were supposed to protect and serve him. As people of God we have to stand up against these injustices; it says right there in the bible “Thou shall not kill”. It does not say you can kill if you are a cop, you can kill if you are the Supreme Court and the Constitution holds you to be the interpreter of the land. I am thankful for the Lord and his words though, because right now as I am filled with frustration and quite frankly rage I looked back up to the original scripture. We will get through such hardships together because we accept the Lord’s word, and we turn our ears toward wisdom and understanding. We fear our Lord, and find knowledge in his teachings and though it looks like the other team is winning. We will prevail, I believe that in my heart; it’s raining today but the sun will shine again. We must try to change the tides, change the tides to the wisdom of God because these evil spirits can claim any one of us at any given time. I love you because you love yourself, you love God and thus you love me. Peace and Grace be unto you.

By any means necessary

When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Isaiah 8:19

Don’t Stop Believing!!!!!! Just wanted to share with you my concert in the shower this morning; American Idol ain’t got nothin on C. Shine. Don’t stop believing in the power of the Lord, that is the real message that needs to be conveyed. We are living in a time when faith is needed more than ever. The staircase has has less light and some steps are missing along the way. This causes us to be even more frightened of the world and times we are living in. We may turn to other mediums to find salvation, to seek out our own happiness. The word specifically asks us ; “should not a people inquire of their God”? Of course we should but in times of weakness the devil tempts us, tempts us to hold true to anything that looks like an answer.

Well don’t stop believing! Believe that you are on the right path by following God and his wisdom. “Should not a people inquire of their God”? Well who else are we to consult. It takes a deep inner faith to believe and understand that God has something great prepared for us. Some of us will miss the boat and lose out on the wonderful blessings that were rightfully ours because we stopped believing, we were caught up in the ways of the world and only the tangible things we could see. I’m in major figurative mode today because I am seeing the stairwell and the missing steps and I know that if I let God guide me I will skip over those downfalls. This does not mean that I will not stumble but I will have missed the bigger fall, the uglier stumble which could leave me in a much worst state. So stumble, fall down and get back up again because in order to achieve we must inquire of our God and not the worldly nonsense that may possibly cause us to fall down into something we may not get up from. Peace and Grace be unto you!

Unless you call out, who will open the door?

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

While watching an old episode of the Arsenio Hall show, Louis Farrakhan quoted Jesus saying “know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Powerful words, which have been spoken so many times from our different leaders that we forget the originator of such wisdom. Truth can be a vague term however, there are no absolute truths, except for the Glory of God. But I always try to look deeper into the God within me, and I ask myself for my own truth. When we live in the truth’s of other people we are essentially living our own lie because we are not being true to ourselves.

We must define ourselves prayerfully through the noble principles that have been set forth by our Creator. We have to really find the truth within this path the Lord has set for us, so that way we are truly giving it our all. Think about when people live for their parents; solely what their parents want of them, or their friends. They live empty lives because they are not chasing their own true passions. I don’t think it’s any different with our belief in God, we must seek out what God means to us and how he resonates within us. I can’t just rely on the fact that my grandmother was a devout Christian and let that guide me. What happens when I am faced against a wall and I am working on borrowed faith; I may abandon it because it was not genuinely within me? So today I am looking to follow the words of Gangstarr and “step back and observe with couth for we all must meet our moment of truth”. I want to be able to look within myself and define my reality for me, define my relationship with God, friends, and family for me. So that I am not chasing a false dream but walking towards the truth that Jesus told us will set us free. Peace and Grace be unto you!

One falsehood spoils a thousand truths

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105