Speak Life SLC

I’ve been in a funky mood since the middle of this weekend. I found myself feeling as if I was on everyone’s back burner except God’s. Making matters worse, I wouldn’t keep my big mouth shut. I didn’t have anyone to vent to so I just followed in the footsteps of my ancestors; I murmured and complained.

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel

murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

Changing gears here.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus said that the “sower soweth the word”, or, “The farmer plants the Word.”

Somewhere else Paul said, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Putting all of this together, I’ve decided to stop sowing negatively into myself. Doing so only makes one madder, angrier, more depressed, and isolated. A much better idea is to speak life.

It is the spirit that quickeneth;

the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that

I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63

Death and life are in the power of the tongue:

and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 18:21

Have a Blessed Week Family.

Celebrate Life With Me

On August 6, 1994 I tried to sleep the whole day away. I had been married 6 months and 1 day, and one of my wife's few gripes was that I would never sleep late on Saturdays. She could snore until almost noon, but I would always wake up at 7 and twittle my thumbs until 8. But, this Saturday was different. It was my birthday and I wanted to sleep through it.

Over the course of my life I had become accustomed to the awkward coincidence that my grandfather passed away a few years before I was born. I believe the date was August 6, 1962. Yep. What a coincidence. I of course never met him, but from what I hear any strengths I possess including any ministerial aspirations came from him; a well respected minister and pillar in the community and the church. But back to 1994; the day I tried to sleep away, because of August 6, 1993.

The previous summer, I celebrated my birthday by getting treated to lunch. I also remember my co-workers father having a mild heart attack that day and there was a tornado that hit central Virginia, but circled around the city of Richmond. That night I went to church and afterwards a local gospel DJ treated my fiancé and me to dinner at an upscale restaurant. We talked about our upcoming wedding in February and other stuff. I was looking forward to having both of my parents there on my special day. I had finally matured enough to possibly pursue a relationship with the man I was named after, in spite of years of him not really being a father to my sister or I.

When I got back to my apartment after dinner I had messages from my mother and others telling me to call home to New Jersey. I immediately got pissed because I knew something was wrong. I called one of the people who left me a message and said "What?" they just said call you mom. So I did. I woke her up out of an unsound sleep. She told me SLC senior had a heart attack and they rushed him to the hospital. I said, "Yeah, how is he". She said, "he died", as if I knew already. I said ok I'll put my suit in the cleaners and wait for you to drive through Virginia on your way to Alabama for the funeral. And that was that so I thought. Later that day I had a severe meltdown. It really surprised me.

When I arrived in Alabama, I really only wanted to see one thing; the obituary. It confirmed my fear; he died on my birthday. So needless to say the next birthday was one I wanted to skip. When I finally woke up on the anniversary of his death/ my birthday, my wife gently suggested we go out to breakfast; my favorite meal, and later that day we went to see my mother-in-law. She had purchased me a new pair of jeans, a card and a cake. They really helped me that day by gently helping me celebrate life.

Every year since then I've gone all out to celebrate my birthday. The coincidences creep into my thoughts but I've decided to live life responsibly to the fullest just like my grandfather, and avoid the traps that sent my father to an early grave.

So be sure to post a comment with your jubilant birthday wishes, and know that although I'm not registered anywhere, you can send gifts whenever you like. Let me know and I'll send you my address through your profile or through facebook. Shoe size 10 œ. Shirt 16 œ 34. Pants 34/34 (and hopefully shrinking to 32/34). Music Jazz, Gospel, Old Skool, Neo.

Thanks for stopping by and of course I'm only (not) joking about the gifts.

SLC

How Strong Are You?

The title of this post is also the theme for an event this Saturday where I have been asked to speak to a group of men from this topic. The individual that asked me to speak is a relative stranger, so I really don't know what he expects me to say, but as soon as he mentioned the theme I was drawn to the scripture that contains the words, "my strength is made perfect in weakness".

In the last week I encountered a volatile situation. To be more specific, a volatile church situation. To be even more specific, a volatile church situation involving grown Christian men. From my perspective they are both right and the both will win and they both will have their way. NOT! From what I see their strength has the ability to doom an entire congregation. This situation calls for a weak man?

This Saturday I hope I can help these men see that the most dangerous man on earth is a strong man. A man that is strong in his awareness of his strength and in the power of his might, as opposed to the suggestion of Ephesians 6:10 saying "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might."

This Saturday if any man sticks his chest out and reminds me that wives are supposed to submit themselves to their husbands, I will hold my bird chest in and tell them that in the same chapter the Bible says, "Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church - a love marked by giving, not getting." (MSG) I think Otis Redding would say, Try a Little Tenderness."

This Saturday I hope I can impress upon them the fact that a man with all the answers all the time has become a God unto himself. They need to know that it's OK not to know the answer, as long as they know The Answerer.

I hope I can get them to understand that if they've never been hurt, not physically hurt, but hurt in their soul, then they really haven't lived except unto themselves. For even Jesus was "moved with compassion" when he saw the multitude. Even "Jesus wept" at the sorrow filled events that preceded the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to say or how I'm going to say it, so I think I'll just delight in my oratory weakness and let God handle it.

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer,
these limitations that cut me down to size -
abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.
I just let Christ take over!
And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.
2 Corinthians 12:10 The Message

Facebook - Blogger - Addictive?

These thoughts were supposed to be a comment for a post on
Character Corner, but I thought it was a little to long so here it is.

Although I've lived in Virginia for 21 years, I've always missed my hometown; Paterson New Jersey, and all the people I grew up with. My wife's entire family is here; both of her brothers, both step sisters, and both sets of parents. Occasionaly I find myself feeling out of place, or not a part of this extended family picture. These feelings increased after my family had a reunion in Richmond Virginia last year. When they all departed for their homes up and down the East Coast, I went home to Varina County (Richmond suburb) to settle back in to my routine of Family, Church, Work......Family, Church, Work......Family, Church, Work.

About a month later I was checking out Character Corner, a blog by my homegirl and fellow Eastside HIgh School graduate Attorneymom. This led me to the creation of Perspective, and somehow eventually lead me to facebook.

I had heard a lot of crappy things about facebook, but when I found out who was using it, I realized it couldn't be all bad. Attorneymom, Free Spirit, Stacye, Tammy, Myriam, and Keith. All bloggers whose character I respect as much as their writing.

Facebook has also allowed me to reconnect with people I haven't seen in over 20 years. When I last saw these people I was a weird combination of shyness, buck wildishness, and Schlitz Malt Liquorness. Now I'm a weird combination of Christian and crazy. It's great to know that if I have a problem and needed some friends to intercede in prayer on my behalf I've got two mediums that enable me to reach over 100 people (90 fb friends, plus blog family) in a matter of seconds. Even if I just want to vent a little. At the same time, if I need a laugh I can go to one of your blogs or FB updates and read about beds crashing through ceilings, sleeping under the bed with the dog, or shenanigans at the local barbershop. I consider it an escape, not a replacement.

Am I addicted to FB and blogger? Probably.

So, in the future just to be safe and sure, I'm going to try and ignore my laptop (conveniently located in the family room) and make a concerted effort to give individualized attention to each of my four children (Gladys knight and the li'l pips) and of course to my wife and counselor of 15 years Urenthia. BUT, when it's me time I'll be in the WORD ,blogging, or facebooking.

Guess my word for the moment should be balance.

Have a Great Weekend

I long for weekends

My job is not my calling

It's time for a change

From Not A Poet

Repair or Replace

My sister's HP laptop is on the blink. There's power, but there is no display. She asked me if I thought she would need to buy a new one. My response was I hope not since it's such a hassle trying to retrieve all of your important information off the old hard drive. So it becomes a question of repairing what you have, or starting from scratch with a new one. I personally know a lot of people who have always opted to replace without giving it a second thought; that is until something goes wrong with the replacement that makes them long for the replaced. The more I've though about this, the more I realize I'm know longer thinking about, laptops, computers, TV's, or cars, but people and relationships. I mean maybe nothing was wrong with what was replaced. Maybe it was operator error. I know people who long to go back, not to the one that got away but to the one they threw away. I guess sometimes hindsight really is.....

Love y'all

SLC

Victory On The Coat Rack. I Mean Treadmill

Two weeks ago I paid a visit to the Dr. to take care of some respiratory issues; namely asthma which had returned with a vengeance after taking a winter break. I spent the rest of that week trying to catch up on the rest I had lost during the more severe times which were mostly at night. By the beginning of the next week I was feeling better but decided to try to help my cause by changing my diet and exercising. This was also influenced by the Fat Smash Diet, which Attorney Mom invited fellow facebookers and bloggers to participate on.

Well Monday night I felt pretty good and even spent some time on that thing in the playroom that collects dust and holds clothes. I had my mp3 player tuned to the music of my high school days, so I had Luther saying "Never Too Much", Patty saying "If Only You Knew", and of course Frankie saying "Before I let Go". But Tuesday something was wrong with me. I was more tired than I thought I should have been and my mood had changed to depressed and grumpy. These moods in the past have usually preceded an asthma flair-up. But I can be stubborn and I was determined to get on that thing again.

Like the previous evening I set my player to the R&B genre, but after 5 minutes things just weren't working out, but I was still stubborn and refused to get off. I made once change however and that was switching to the Christian Genre. Slowly but surely I got stronger and stronger. Starting with Israel and New Breed singing, "No limits. No boundaries. I see increase all around me." Then they sang "Take the Limits Off", and that's how I was feeling about asthma, Lord take that limit off of me. And he did. Then I was reminded by Fred Hammond and RFC that "No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper."

After 30 minutes I cooled off to a song that said, "What an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of a King", and indeed that's where I was. The playroom had become my personal sanctuary and the treadmill was changed to an altar. I felt like the Praise and Worship allowed me to have an out of body experience, which did more for my inner being than the treadmill did for my body. I'm glad to say that by the end of the week I was easily going 30 minutes on the treadmill, played a little basketball in 90 degree weather, and I've shed a few pounds.

I hope to be a little more active blogging and facebooking in the next few days 'cause I miss y'all, but If you don't hear from me keep me in prayer as I keep things in perspective.

SLC

PS. Free Spirit this is my freckle picture mentioned in an earlier post.

Standing In For Standing Able

Hello family. This is just a (late) quick post to ask everyone to continue in prayer for Stacye's mom. If you don't know Stacye that's ok, as long as you know God. Prayerfully within the next few days we'll be getting a positive report from Stacye.

God Bless Y'all
SLC
From a recent post of hers;

Well, I don't care what he says, we serve a God that is able,
and if He doesn't perform a miracle with this
necessary operation (yes, He gives us wisdom) He is still ABLE to.

So, the surgery is scheduled for April 21st and of course,
I will be off for that week and maybe the following week as well.

So, everybody send me some LOVE for the next few weeks
leading up to the 21st of April and I will still post until
the 20th and then I will be handling
my responsibilities concerning my MOTHER.

I LOVE YOU GUYS AND I KNOW THAT YOU
ARE PRAYING FOR US AND KNOW THAT
WE ARE PRAYING FOR EACH OF YOU AS WELL!

With A Sincere Heart,
Stacye

PAY IT FORWARD

After receiving the Honest Scrap Award from Keith and Shaz I had every intention of paying it forward quickly but I.......See what had happened was............
Then Myriam tagged me near the end of March and then I ................well you know....
No excuses. I appreciate the affirmation received and I'm sorry for taking so long to get to this. I think my problem was trying to find things to share about me that I thought were interesting.
Interesting or not, here goes............

1 On the first date with my wife we were actually with the wrong people, but we dumped them and reconnected three years later at Church that I only visited because of the invitation from another ex so; thanks ex's.

2 Although I play keyboards at Church, my true instrument is the trumpet. I like to play in such a manner that people forget about saxophonists. Passionate like Kirk Whalum yet moving like Grover Washington only with a trumpet instead.

3 Although I now live in Richmond, Virginia, I was born and raised in Paterson New Jersey and attended Eastside (Lean On Me) High School with fellow blogger Attorneymom.

4 I'm fighting the Good Fight of Faith against asthma and I will be victorious. As part of my fight I aspire to make a homemade demo playing trumpet to the Glory of God. The eventual album will be called Larger Than Life, and the first single will be Savior More Than Life to Me.

5 I have freckles. Way too many freckles. So many; that if I get rid of them now, my face would look empty. In grammar school the boogers called me Howdy Doody and Richie Cunningham. I like the blogger profile pictures. Small so you can't see the dots. I recently had a photo similar to Free Spirits eye catching closeup, but I deleted it because the dots were just overpowering.

6 If I'm up and tired at 11:30PM, I struggle to stay awake so I can catch (read) another episode of Escapades. This is the closest I've ever come to being hooked on a soap opera.

7 I love playing around with blogger templates, and at times redesign templates for other bloggers. They don't know I do it so it's really just for fun. The one I'll reveal today is a little too dark, but the header picture of the Philadelphia night-line is a keeper. Anyway, this bloggers daughter is an excellent photographer so he could easily use one of her works of art. I hope he doesn't mind, but if you do send me an email laying me out. The posts are actually imported from perspective so I could get a feel for how the blog would actually look.

8 Influenced by my fellow bloggers I quietly have started a poetry blog; appropriately titled not a poet

9 I love Praise and Worship; at Church in the Car. I ain't picky.

9 Still like my old school music; you know the kind that could get you in trouble; Teddy, Luther, LTD, Minnie Ripperton, Isley, Donny Hathaway etc...

10 I pray for the members of my blog family.

AND NOW.

CARRY ME HOME

INK ON THE SHEETS

ME MYSELF AND I

MIZ'S WRITE FOR LIFE (I'm sure this is a repeat for you)

A BLACK MALE'S PERSPECTIVE

LIVING LOVING LAUGHING

You have been tagged.

I know some of you don't even know me since I don't comment just for the sake of commenting, but I like reading your thoughts and hope this works to introduce you to, and to you, other bloggers I appreciate.

The official rules are below, but I really only have one rule (request) and that is, keep being the blessing God had made you.

SLC

• When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real.
• Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don't have seven friends. Show the seven random victims' names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
• List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!

Silent Wednesday

Greetings from Myrtle Beach South Carolina. It's spring break for 5 out of 6 of us, and the other one (moi) is simply taking a week off from work. So now the question is, "why is this post titled silent Wednesday?" Well this is Passion Week and the Scriptures record nothing regarding the activities of Christ on Wednesday. Some people believe that this is the day that Judas set up the betrayal of Jesus. Whether or not that is true, it does show that many times when we're enjoying a moment of relaxation, the enemy is planning his next attack.

Now I know I should be sleeping or eating, but I brought my laptop along and when I got out of bed and opened up firefox the first msn.com article I saw was entitled, "End of Christian America? What a decline in self-proclaimed Christians means".
Some points from the article.

"Americans who claim no religious affiliation
has nearly doubled since 1990, rising from 8 to 15 percent."
"the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen
10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent."
"the percentage of people who say they are unaffiliated
with any particular faith has doubled in recent years, to 16 percent;"
"the number of people willing to describe themselves
as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold
from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million."

Now as I've already stated, I'm on vacation with my family and so I’m not really blogging this week, but I have never and will never take a vacation from being a Christian. I am a Christian. I have confessed with my mouth what I believe in my heart and that is that God raised Jesus from the dead. That is good news. That is the Gospel and I am not ashamed to say so.

I think Newsweek was down on it’s luck that day and just asked the wrong people. I’m convinced that this scripture applies to my country in a different way, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16 KJV)” This references a desire for heaven, but what I’m talking about is a Heavenly manifestation on Earth. (Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven)

Will you help me? Will you please vote and help solidify my belief that this country is no going to hell in a hand basket while we sit around and watch? As I’ve already stated, I’m on vacation, but I did take the time to vote (Top Left Column)! Thank you for your participation.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 KJV